Taiwans President Mas tal om de förbättrade relationerna med Kina

Government Information Office

Press Release（Updated）

October 14, 2009

President Ma: Financial MOU and ECFA to be priority cross-strait tasks

At a ceremony celebrating the 98th National Day of the Republic of China, President Ma Ying-jeou said that relations between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have improved greatly over the past year, and that a turning point for cross-strait peace has appeared. This is the result of efforts on both sides of the Strait that accords with the hopes of the vast majority of the Taiwan public and has been universally affirmed by the international community.

He went on to say that over the past year, on the pragmatic basis of the "1992 Consensus," Taipei and Beijing have signed nine agreements enabling larger numbers of visits to Taiwan by mainland tourists, direct air, sea, and postal links, food safety inspections, and mutual cross-strait judicial assistance. Cross-strait cooperation continues to expand daily, leading to the gradual accumulation of mutual trust and good will. Nevertheless, Ma added, "We believe that much remains for us to tackle on behalf of the well-being of our peoples, including negotiation of memorandums of understanding (MOU) on financial supervisory cooperation and an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA)."

The president also emphasized that cross-strait differences and concerns are rooted in historical factors that cannot be overcome all at once. To achieve further peaceful development of relations, both sides must remain patient, face up to practical realities, and move forward in a gradual, orderly manner, so as to build mutual trust and find common ground amid differences. In addition, the government's foremost guiding principle in dealing with cross-strait issues is to safeguard national sovereignty and advance the people's welfare.

According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Taipei and Beijing will hold preliminary talks on an ECFA in the near future and exchange preliminary views on what to include in the agreement. The Ministry of Economic Affairs emphasized that the signing of an ECFA will allow establishment of a stable framework for economic cooperation, initiation of a mechanism for positive cross-strait interaction and solidification of Taiwan's position in the international supply chain. This will provide new opportunities for Taiwan's industrial development and contribute to Taiwan's transformation into a global center for innovation, an Asia-Pacific trade hub and an operations headquarters for Taiwanese businesses.