President Chen Shui-bian on May 29 met with South Korean Grand National Party Lawmaker Maeng Hyung-Kyu and other South Korea parliamentarians at the Presidential Building. The president expressed his appreciation to the visitors for their long-term contributions in promoting substantive and friendly ties between Taiwan and South Korea.
The president said that lawmaker Maeng is a 75th generation descendent of Mencius, adding that he is delighted to have the opportunity to meet with a descendent of such a virtuous person. He added that lawmaker Maeng on May 23 completed his tenure as the vice chairman of "Committee for Victory of 2007 Presidential Election (CVPE)." The president said he is confident that lawmaker Maeng has a deep understanding of election affairs.
President Chen furthermore said that the Grand National Party is maintaining quite a cautious and low key stance as to the year-end election that will be held to elect a new South Korean president. He said that the party recalls its experience of election losses in the past and therefore has adopted a new thinking and methods for this year's poll. Public opinion polls show that support for the Grand National Party is at about 50%, while several potential candidates from the party have support of up to 70% in the polls. As a result, many are confident that the party's candidate will win the election.
In addressing bilateral ties, the president said that he is pleased that the two countries have been able to resume aviation ties during his term in office. He added that a Taiwan representative office has been re-opened in Pusan and that both countries are providing visa-free courtesies to tourists from the other. As a result, travel between the two nations has increased substantially, with over 600,000 visits made by people of the two countries last year. Of these visitors, two-thirds were comprised of Taiwan citizens visiting South Korea, amounting to about 400,000 visits. The president said he hopes that further growth can be seen in this area based on the existing foundation. Meanwhile, the president noted that Taiwan-South Korea bilateral trade last year reached US$22.15 billion, with South Korea enjoying a US$7.85 billion trade surplus with Taiwan. South Korea is Taiwan's fourth largest trading partner, fourth largest source of imports and fifth largest export market. Taiwan's trade deficit with South Korea is the third largest of all of its trading partners. The president said that given the large amount of trade between the two, the signing of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and South Korea is an important issue.
The president also said that given the close commercial ties between the two countries, it is important for economic and trade ministers of the two nations to hold consultations. He said that Taiwan has established mechanisms to hold ministerial level conferences with many Southeast Asian nations with which it does not maintain diplomatic relations. President Chen said he hopes that efforts can be made to resume ministerial level dialogue after the Grand National Party wins the presidency.
Lawmaker Maeng expressed his appreciation to President Chen for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with him. He said that Taiwan continues to stand tall and further its development despite the challenges it faces in the international community. Lawmaker Maeng said these achievements are the result of the leadership of President Chen and the efforts of the Taiwan people. He said he hopes his visit to Taiwan is able to promote the further development of ties between the two nations.
Lawmaker Maeng, along with Ahn Hong-Joon and Chang Yoon-Seok, two other lawmakers from the Grand National Party, were accompanied to the Presidential Building by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chang Siao-yue. Also in attendance was Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Chi-mai.