President Ma Ying-jeou on the evening of May 19 received delegations from the European Parliament and the British Parliament at the Presidential Office. The delegations were in Taiwan to take part in the inauguration ceremonies for the 13th-term president and vice president of the ROC. Also attending the meetings were Vice President-elect Wu Den-yih and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tung Kuoyu (董國猷).
In remarks, the president stated that the European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group and the British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group comprise the parliamentarians in those two bodies that are the friendliest to Taiwan and who support meaningful participation for Taiwan in international organizations and activities. The members of these groups also support the formation of economic cooperation agreements between Taiwan and the European Union (EU), and have spared no effort in providing support to Taiwan, the president remarked.
President Ma expressed his belief that Taiwan and the EU share a commitment to the core values of democracy, freedom, human rights, and rule of law. He noted that four years ago after his administration began working to improve relations with mainland China, Taiwan's relations with the EU also progressed considerably. For instance, he said, on January 14 of this year when the results of the presidential and legislative elections were announced here, the EU's High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton immediately issued a statement of congratulations and reiterated the EU's support for the democratic values displayed in the elections. She also stated that the EU welcomes the improvements in cross-strait relations over the past several years. Meanwhile, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague, the president said, also on the same day issued a public statement offering congratulations for the successful elections here, and called for continued promotion of peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. President Ma said this shows that his administration’s efforts to improve cross-strait relations and participate in international activities have won the support of the international community.
President Ma stated that the economic and trade relationship between Taiwan and the EU is quite close, with the EU being Taiwan's fourth largest trading partner. Bilateral trade reached US$52.5 billion in 2011, he pointed out, furthermore citing 8% growth in trade from the year earlier. The president expressed his hopes that Taiwan and the EU will explore the feasibility of an economic cooperation agreement in the future. Such a pact, he said, would provide opportunities for even greater cooperation.
President Ma also explained to the visitors that since Taiwan and mainland China signed the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement two years ago, exports of goods from Taiwan to mainland China have enjoyed preferential tariff treatment. The two sides are presently engaged in follow-up negotiations, he stated, adding that if these talks can be concluded soon, Taiwan's exports to the mainland will enjoy even greater advantages. Consequently, the president welcomed European companies to invest in Taiwan and take advantage of this mechanism to expand their presence in the mainland market. At the same time, he said that the Taiwan government will encourage Taiwan companies to invest in Europe in an effort to achieve the objective of diversifying Taiwan's exports.
The delegations were led by European Parliament-Taiwan Friendship Group Vice Chair Laima Andrikiene and British-Taiwanese All-Party Parliamentary Group Co-Chair Lord Steel of Aikwood. Accompanying the delegations to the Presidential Office to meet President Ma were European Economic and Trade Office Head Frederic Laplanche and British Trade & Cultural Office in Taiwan Director David Campbell.