Taipei, Dec. 10 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that he strongly hopes that a free trade agreement (FTA) between Taiwan and Japan can one day be forged for mutual benefits.
Chen made the call during a meeting with a delegation led by Japan Business Federation Vice President Akio Kosai at the Presidential Office.
Expressing his keen hope for such an accord between the two countries, Chen said he believes that setting up such a cooperative venture will help strengthen and enhance two-way economic exchanges.
According to the president, incumbent Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Shoichi Nakagawa and an ex-minister Takeo Hiranuma both are very supportive of such a pact between Taiwan and Japan.
For his part, Kosai said he was very impressed by Taiwan's remarkable economic development in recent years amid a global economic recession, pointing to the Taipei 101 as an example, which is the world's tallest building.
Kosai added that issues related to a Taiwan-Japan FTA will be topics for discussion at an East Asian Economic Conference slated to open Thursday in Taipei.