Continuous momentum between Taiwan and the EU is essential for negotiations over a bilateral investment agreement to proceed, Madeleine Majorenko, head of the European Economic and Trade Office in Taiwan, said yesterday.
The EU has entered a preparatory phase for such talks with Taiwan, she said, adding that during the period, the two sides are to express their ambitions and commitments to cooperation.
While there is no timetable for starting formal negotiations, the more comprehensive the preparatory phase is, the smoother the follow-up trade negotiations would be, she said.
Taiwan aims to strike a bilateral investment agreement and an economic cooperation pact with the EU.
In October last year, the European Commission said it is to explore starting negotiations on investment with Taiwan as part of a trade globalization plan.
Majorenko also congratulated president-elect Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), saying that the way the elections were held was “impressive.”
The elections were “an expression of democratic values and democratic maturity,” she said.
Regarding President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) visit to Itu Aba Island (Taiping Island, 太平島) in the South China Sea, Majorenko urged all parties involved in the territorial dispute surrounding the island to act responsibly to maintain stability in the region and not to “rock the boat.”
“As I said, everyone should keep a calm head. That is very important,” Majorenko said.
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