President Ma Ying-jeou met with Hiroyuki Kawabe, Deputy Chairman of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the Fukuoka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, at the Presidential Office on the morning of April 16. The president extended a cordial welcome to Mr. Kawabe on his visit to Taiwan.
The president noted that Mr. Kawabe has invested in Taiwan for 25 years, making him a senior partner in economic cooperation. Last year, the volume of trade between Taiwan and Japan reached US$64 billion. Japan is Taiwan's second largest trading partner, while Taiwan is its northern neighbor's fifth largest source of trade. Taiwan's exports to Japan in 2008 were US$17.5 billion, while imports from Japan amounted to US$46.5 billion, resulting in a trade deficit with Japan of nearly US$29 billion. Trade relations between the two nations are extremely close, he said.
President Ma expressed his hopes that Taiwan in the future will be able to serve as a test market for products from Japan, saying that Taiwan's overall economic environment, historical and cultural background, and market size make it perfect to serve in this role. As Japan prepares to market its goods to other countries, Taiwan would be a good place to test out its products first, he said.
With regards to the development of bilateral trade and economic relations, President Ma indicated that the ROC (Taiwan) government desires to sign a free trade agreement or economic partnership agreement with Japan. Prior to this, however, he hopes the rank of personnel attending economic conferences held between the two countries can be raised from mid-level government officials to ministers or deputy ministers. This would help to further strengthen the bilateral relationship, he said. In addition, at a time when Taiwan is improving relations with mainland China, President Ma said he hopes to see balanced development through a commensurate strengthening of ties with Japan.
President Ma said that since taking office he has sought to highlight the special nature of the relationship between Taiwan and Japan. He has designated 2009 as "The Year to Foster the Special Partnership between Taiwan and Japan." Under this initiative, the government is making every effort to enhance interaction and cooperation between the two countries. Speaking in more concrete terms, the president said that the ROC (Taiwan) this year expects to establish a representative office in Hokkaido. It is also making plans for a Taiwan cultural center in Tokyo. These offices will pave the way for closer cultural and official interaction, he said. In addition, a Taiwan-Japan working holiday visa system will formally come into effect on June 1, which is the culmination of government efforts to promote interaction between youth of the two nations. The program will enable young people between the ages of 18 and 30 in each country to spend up to a year in the other.
President Ma also pointed out that charter flights will begin between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Taipei's Songshan Airport in October of next year, marking a new page in aviation history between Taiwan and Japan. The charter flights between the two inner city airports will help reduce transportation time to and from airports. Meanwhile, the two countries completed fishing negotiations in February of this year, which highlights the increasingly close state of bilateral relations, according to the president.
Mr. Kawabe said that he has witnessed the rapid development of Taiwan in many respects in recent years, which has left a deep impression on him. He added that cooperation between Taiwan and Fukuoka could be expanded from tourism and commerce to collaboration in environmental protection and medical services.