President Tsai reiterates Taiwan’s commitment to joining CPTPP

2019/09/05

President Tsai Ing-wen said Sept. 3 that Taiwan is committed to joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and making a greater contribution to the regional economy.
 
 Taiwan is willing and able to comply with the practices and rules of the high-standard CPTPP, Tsai said. Participation in the trade bloc would spur related exchanges with signatory countries and in particular Japan, she added.
 
 Tsai made the remarks while receiving an academic delegation led by Yasuhiro Matsuda, a professor of international politics from the University of Tokyo, at the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
 
 According to Tsai, Taiwan is working with like-minded countries such as Japan to advance the development of democracy across the Asia-Pacific. As a beacon of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law, Taiwan has considerable experience to share in this regard, she said.
 
 A core component of this engagement includes government-backed events like the Ketagalan and Yushan forums involving experts, officials, opinion shapers, policymakers and scholars from home and abroad, Tsai said. The New Southbound Policy is another example of government efforts to establish broader, multilevel cooperation and exchanges with regional partners.
 
 A key plank in the government’s national development strategy, the NSP seeks to deepen agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
 
 Tsai said frequent visits by members of the delegation also underscore the success of the government’s approach and the deep friendship shared by Taiwan and Japan.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)