Olivier Richard, director of the French Office in Taipei, called on the ROC government July 14 to remove nontariff barriers so as to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations.
Richard made the remarks at a Bastille Day celebration luncheon held at the National Palace Museum’s Silks Palace in Taipei City. Attending were Vanessa Yea-ping Shih, deputy minister of the ROC Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of the diplomatic corps, French businessmen and expats.
Shih said in her congratulatory address that she hopes to see Taiwan and France conclude a working holiday agreement in the near future given that France is a popular destination for Taiwan students.
Echoing her remarks, MOFA spokesman Steve C.C. Hsia said later in the day that the two sides are working to seal the deal.
Richard, who assumed the post of de facto French ambassador to the ROC eight months ago, delivered his speech in Chinese, praising strong Taiwan-France cultural and scientific cooperation.
“There is much room for improvement in terms of bilateral economic and trade relations,” Richard said, citing France’s position as Taiwan’s 24th largest trading partner in 2011.
“Many factors are responsible for this result,” Richard said. “The most important being that nontariff barriers have held back Taiwan’s international trade.”
According to Richard, removing nontariff barriers is a complicated issue that requires the ROC and French governments continue exchanging views so as to find pragmatic solutions. “Similarly, we seek to strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations through increasing industrial cooperation,” he added.
The top French envoy to Taiwan also promised to consolidate Taiwan-France exchanges spanning a variety of fields. (JSM)
Write to Rachel Chan at ccchan@mofa.gov.tw