President Tsai Ing-wen urged Feb. 5 mainland China to set aside political differences and safeguard the rights and interests of Taiwan businesses operating on the other side of the strait.
It is the government’s sincere intention to demonstrate its goodwill by conducting negotiations with mainland China in the hopes of fostering mutually beneficial economic ties and better addressing the challenges faced by Taiwan businesses, Tsai said. Ensuring the positive development of Taiwan businesses in mainland China is at the heart of the government’s agenda, and no stone will be left unturned in helping these enterprises upgrade and supporting those planning to move their operations back to Taiwan, she added.
The president, who made the remarks at a luncheon in Taipei City attended by Taiwan businesspeople based in mainland China, said the government has implemented a number of measures aimed at bolstering the economy since she took office May 20, 2016.
These include rolling out the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative, reviewing laws and regulations governing investment and talent recruitment, improving labor rights and the interests of migrant workers, raising the minimum wage, implementing the 40-hour work week and restructuring the national pension scheme.
The five-plus-two innovative industries initiative is at the vanguard of government efforts to revitalize Taiwan’s economy. It targets the five emerging and high-growth sectors of biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things, as well as the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development.
Boosting Taiwan’s economy is a top priority in the year ahead, Tsai said. The focus will be on delivering good governance so as to fast-track the country’s overall economic structural transformation, with the peoplecentric New Southbound Policy the main driver of this root-and-branch overhaul, she added.
A key plank in Tsai’s national development strategy, the New Southbound Policy seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, trade and tourism links with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the president, Taiwan must play a more constructive role in Asia, with the policy the main conduit for strengthening cooperation between Taiwan and the 18 targeted countries.
In addition to reforms, restructuring and the New Southbound Policy, Tsai said the government is working to draft more diverse and flexible trade policies, as well as expand dialogue, with major trading partners such as the EU, Japan and the U.S. This is expected to deepen mutually beneficial economic cooperation and help raise the profile of Taiwan businesses in the global market, she added. (SCK-E)
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