Taiwan is hopeful that it can forge closer bilateral ties with New Zealand, especially on the economy and tourism, the nation’s representative to New Zealand said yesterday.
New Zealand is in favor of a free-trade system, which is seen as beneficial to export-driven economies, such as Taiwan, which is why the nation wants to establish closer economic relations with the South Pacific country, Taiwanese Representative Elliot Charng (常以立) said.
“We support anything that is beneficial to bilateral economic cooperation, including the possibility of exploring an economic partnership agreement,” Charng said during a visit to New Zealand by first lady Chow Mei-ching (周美青).
Photo: CNA
A former deputy chief representative at the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ Office of Trade Negotiations, Charng said establishing closer economic ties is at the top of his agenda in New Zealand.
However, the potential for tourism should not be overlooked, he said, given that the number of Taiwanese visiting New Zealand has increased by 40 percent since Wellington granted Republic of China passport holders visa-free privileges last year.
Charng said his office is also planning to expand a popular working holiday program under which up to 600 young people a year can sign up to do casual work in New Zealand to finance themselves for a year while they vacation in the country.
Charng said most Taiwanese businesspeople, immigrants and students living in New Zealand, especially those in Christchurch, had settled down and tried to get their lives back to normal in the aftermath of the magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the South Island city on Feb. 22.
Lee Hsin-hong (李欣虹) remains the only Taiwanese still listed as missing and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office said it has been in close contact with Christchurch police for the latest information on quake victims, he said.
Some Taiwanese students in Christchurch have returned to Taiwan, while others have opted to transfer to schools in Auckland or in Australia to continue their studies, he said, adding that most Taiwanese-owned local businesses were not seriously affected by the earthquake.
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