Taipei, Dec. 20 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian pitched for the upgrading of relations with Thailand Wednesday while meeting with a Thai senatorial delegation.
President Chen said the visit of the Thai senatorial mission symbolizes the cordiality of relationship between the two countries. Nevertheless, Chen said there is still ample room for the ROC and Thailand to upgrade their exchanges and cooperation.
Chen said he is hopeful that the Thai parliament can help push its government to throw support behind the ROC's bids to become a dialogue partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
In view of ever-growing civilian and commercial exchanges between the two countries, Chen went on, Thailand should also upgrade the level of official contacts with the ROC and resume the annual ministerial-level economic conference.
"It is a must to enhance bilateral engagements, particularly exchanges of visits by high-ranking government officials," Chen said.
President Chen said two-way trade between Taiwan and Thailand has grown steadily and reached US$4.5 billion last year. In addition, Chen said Taiwan is the largest employer of expatriate Thai workers and the third largest foreign investor in Thailand.
Against this backdrop, Chen said, Thailand should forge closer official contacts with the ROC for mutual benefits. "For one thing, the two countries should resume the annual ministerial-level economic conference which has bee suspended since 1991," he added.
Chen further suggested that the existing bilateral labor meeting be upgraded to the ministerial level to facilitate settlement of certain migrant workers-related issues and improve services for legal Thai workers in Taiwan.
More than 141,000 Thai people are now working in Taiwan, accounting for about 50 percent of total expatriate Thai laborers. Chen said he is grateful for the contribution of migrant Thai workers have made to Taiwan's infrastructure construction over past years. Chen told the visiting Thai senators that local employers are generally satisfied with Thai workers' diligence and law-abiding spirit.
The 10-member Thai delegation was headed by Sawai Prammanee, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Welfare.