President Chen Shui-bian on May 14th met representatives from Japan's Waseda University who are attending a Taiwan-Japan technical exchange conference. The president, on behalf of the people and government of the ROC (Taiwan), expressed a warm welcome and appreciation to the visitors.
The president noted that this year marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of Waseda University. The president expressed his good wishes to the school as it prepares to hold its anniversary celebration in October. He also said he sends his regards for a successful conference to be held between scholars of the two countries that will focus on technical exchanges.
President Chen said he met with Waseda University President Katsuhiko Shirai at the Presidential Building in October 2003 and less than two weeks afterwards, Waseda University established a research institute devoted to Taiwan topics. He communicated with representatives of the research institute in October of last year in a teleconference. Also in October 2006, Democratic Progressive Party Chairman Yu Shyi-kun was invited by Waseda University to visit the school and deliver a speech. The president expressed his appreciation at this gesture.
He said that Waseda University has enormous influence in Japan throughout the political, economic and social circles. He noted that the university is especially well-known for its expertise in robots, life sciences and the global environment, as well as for its research achievements in information technology, semiconductors and nanotechnology. Waseda University maintains strong exchanges and cooperation with National Taiwan University and other academic and research institutions here. The president said he expects the Taiwan-Japan technology exchange conference to be an outstanding success.
The president also noted that Taiwan and Japan maintain close and friendly relations, and that exchanges and cooperation in the areas of commerce and trade are extremely strong. Last year, bilateral trade exceeded US$62.5 billion. Japan is Taiwan's second largest trading partner, while Taiwan is Japan's fourth largest trading partner. The president said he hopes that the two countries, based on the existing foundation, will continue to promote mutually beneficial trade measures and sign a free trade agreement.
President Chen furthermore said that he realizes that there are various difficulties in achieving rapid trade and economic breakthroughs between the two countries, adding that he understands various practical issues that stand in the way. However, if the two nations are able to continue to strengthen their economic relationship and sign a bilateral investment guarantee agreement or an economic partnership agreement, this would gradually set the foundation and pave the way for a more comprehensive free trade agreement. He said both sides should consider the benefits that these agreements would offer and jointly work toward achieving these objectives.
The president said that the two countries have long had a complementary economic relationship. Previously, cooperation centered on capital and technology, but today the focus is more on innovation and R&D, as well as joint investment in China. He said that there is still considerable room for cooperation between the two nations.