Taiwan : Taiwan to discuss trade pact with China in APEC.Byline: Mamta03 Taiwan's representative to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit said Monday he will discuss a trade agreement with the Chinese delegation but not politics. The statement by Lien Chan Lien Chan (Traditional Chinese: 連戰; Simplified Chinese: 连战; Pinyin: Lián Zhàn , also a former Taiwanese vice president, is in line with President Ma Ying-jeou's monthslong efforts to facilitate closer trade ties with Beijing to boost Taiwan's sluggish economy Sluggish Economy A state in the economy in which the growth is slow, flat or declining. The term can refer to the economy as a whole or a component of the economy, such as weak housing starts. . Speaking to reporters, Lien said he will help arrange formal negotiations between Taipei and Beijing on a partial free trade agreement. No date or place for talks have been set yet. A trade agreement would permit the free flow of many goods, services and capital between Taiwan and China. However, the Taiwan government has said the pact will not include agricultural goods and will not allow Chinese laborers to enter Taiwan. Taiwanese officials have said the pact would allow the island to keep its competitive standing in the region, since Beijing is set to allow tariff-free imports from Southeast Asian countries as early as January. Taiwan officials hope to sign a deal with China by next spring. Lien said he will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao Hu Jintao (h  ` jĭn`tou`), 1942–, Chinese political leader, b. Jixi, Anhui prov. A hydroelectric engineering graduate (1965) of Qinghua Univ. during the
APEC summit, set to take place Nov.14-15 in Singapore, but they will not
touch upon political issues because it would not be appropriate.
"The most important thing in cross-strait relations now is to work out major economic issues that have been delayed for a long time," Lien said. Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its territory. Relations between the sides have improved significantly after Ma took office last May. Ma has vowed to reduce tensions across the 100-mile (160-kilometer) -wide Taiwan Strait Taiwan Strait, Chinese Taiwan haixia, arm of the Pacific Ocean, between China's Fujian coast and Taiwan, linking the East and South China seas. It contains the Pescadores. It is also called the Formosa Strait. , but he has also said Taipei and Beijing should work on improving trade relations first before moving on to sensitive political and security issues. Copyright : Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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