Taiwan and Australia signed two memorandums of understanding June 20 in Canberra, pledging to boost bilateral collaboration on food safety and scientific research.
Concluded by Francis Kuo-hsin Liang, deputy minister of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Heather Smith, deputy secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the agreements cover exchanges of information and personnel.
“The food safety MOU allows Taiwan and Australia to bring their respective regulations in line, enhance customs inspection efficiency and promote sector development,” Liang said.
Smith, who welcomed the development, said she expects the two sides to engage in comprehensive cooperation on biomedicine, climate change, nanotechnology and oceanic sciences.
The memorandums were the highlight of annual Bilateral Economic Consultations held in the Australian capital, according to the MOEA.
During the two-day event, senior officials from both countries discussed a variety of issues, including promoting bilateral trade and investment, regional integration under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation framework and the Doha development round of negotiations in the World Trade Organization.
Commencing in 1990, the BEC is the most important platform for Taiwan-Australia business and trade talks. The next set of consultations is expected to take place in Taipei City.
According to the Ministry of Finance, trade between Taiwan and Australia for the first five months of 2012 decreased 5.45 percent year on year to US$5.55 billion. Australia is Taiwan’s ninth-biggest export target and sixth-largest source of imports. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at sfcang@mail.mofa.gov.tw