President Ma Ying-jeou met with Joo Ho-young, a National Assemblyman from the Korean Grand National Party, at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of September 28 and extended a cordial welcome to Mr. and Mrs. Joo on their visit to Taiwan.
The president stated that his administration has sought over the past two years to improve relations with mainland China in order to reduce tension in the Taiwan Strait and put cross-strait trade on a more systematic footing. These goals are gradually being realized, he said, adding that in the course of improving relations with the mainland, he hopes that ties with Korea will also continue to strengthen.
President Ma explained that direct flights have already commenced between Taipei's Songshan Airport and Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport, and that starting in October this year direct charter flights will begin between Songshan Airport and Tokyo's Haneda Airport. He expressed his belief that an opening of direct flights between Songshan Airport and Seoul's Gimpo International Airport would spur increased tourism and business between the two countries. The president also pointed to the enormous volume of trade between the two countries and said he hopes that there will be an opportunity in the future to exchange opinions and explore with Korea the possibility of signing an economic and trade accord.
The president remarked that the ROC and the Republic of Korea maintained a strong partnership for decades until 1992 when the two severed diplomatic relations in response to changing international conditions. However, the two sides have gradually resumed contacts in recent years, including an agreement in 2003 to provide visa-free treatment to nationals of each country, the resumption of regular air links between the two countries in 2005, and the commencement of annual official trade and economic consultations in 2007. President Ma noted that Korea established a Taiwan research center last year and that Taiwan also founded a Korea research center this year. Substantive relations between the two sides have improved significantly, he said, pointing to close ties in the areas of business & trade, tourism, academics, and culture.
President Ma specially thanked National Assemblyman Joo and Mrs. Joo for taking time out of their busy schedule to visit Taiwan despite the political tension on the Korean peninsula that has followed in the wake of the Cheonan incident earlier this year. He expressed his hopes that the two countries will continue their friendly relationship, which is in the best interests of the people of the two sides.
National Assemblyman Joo and Mrs. Joo were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ssu-Tsun Shen to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Tung Kuo-yu.