The 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting will be held in November in Manila, the Philippines. Presidential Office Spokesperson Charles I-hsin Chen (陳以信) said on October 28 that President Ma Ying-jeou has decided to ask former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) to attend as his representative.
Former Vice President Siew is well-versed in economic and trade diplomacy, and multilateral trade negotiations. He has attended APEC meetings a total of six times as minister of economic affairs and presidential representative, and has built strong relationships with leaders of other APEC members. Former Vice President Siew has explained Taiwan's economic and trade development with representatives from other nations attending the APEC event, as well as Taiwan's contribution in enhancing momentum in the area of trade and economics in the Asia-Pacific. President Ma believes the former vice president's expertise, background, experience, and connections will undoubtedly substantively enhance the nation's influence in the trade regime within the Asia-Pacific, and that is why he has again invited former Vice President Siew to serve as his representative.
The Philippines has decided to make "Enhancing the Regional Economic Integration Agenda" one of the key priorities under the theme of this year's APEC meetings. An important objective of the ROC at present is to promote entry into regional economic integration mechanisms such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Former Vice President Siew has long concerned himself with related issues, and presently serves as the convener of a promotion committee (comprised of members from the private sector, including figures from the opposition parties and representatives of the business community), whose mission is to push for Taiwan's admission to the TPP and the RCEP. Former Vice President Siew will take advantage of the APEC platform to exchange opinions on a wide range of topics with other leaders from APEC members and explain to them Taiwan's efforts to support the multilateral trade system, hoping to create positive conditions for Taiwan's admission to the second round of TPP negotiations.