Taiwan Today

A forum dedicated to promoting Taiwan’s investment potential will be held during the fourth round of talks between Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation and its mainland counterpart, the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait. “The event is expected to bring together nearly 50 influential entrepreneurs from both sides of the strait, including major players in Taiwan’s electronic, motor, mechanical and service sectors,” said SEF Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian Nov. 25. Kao said the relaxation of regulations governing mainland-bound investment has created a wealth of local investment opportunities. “The forum is part of ongoing SEF efforts to educate mainland investors on the potential of Taiwan’s investment environment.” The conference will be divided into two parallel sessions. The first will see Ministry of Economic Affairs officials address regulations and policies pertaining to mainland Chinese investment in Taiwan. At the second, representatives from local industry associations will explain the island’s investment environment. Kao said in keeping with established practice, the talks will assess the impact of previous SEF-ARATS agreements, including the expansion of cross-strait direct charter flights and the further opening of Taiwan to mainland tourists. “The issue of urging the mainland to relax controls on its tourists wishing to visit Taiwan will also be raised.” As to the proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement, Kao said discussions would be limited to preparatory work in order to lay the groundwork for future ECFA negotiations. “No agreements relating to the ECFA will be signed.” Commenting on the opposition Democratic Progressive Party’s plans to stage public demonstrations during the talks, Kao said a designated area for the protests would be administered by the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior and the Taichung City Government. “Democracy helps us to live together peacefully and respect and recognize different opinions,” he said, “but such opinions should be expressed in reasonable ways.” The upcoming round of SEF-ARATS talks is scheduled to take place at the end of December in Taichung. Kao will lead an SEF delegation to mainland China for preparatory talks after which details regarding the timetable and the location of cross-strait talks will be announced. (CYH-JSM)