President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Wu-Den-yih met on the morning of September 12 with the delegation that represented the ROC at the 20th APEC Economic Leaders' Week held in Vladivostok, Russia. The president said that the delegation lived up to expectations, achieving their mission of promoting economic and trade development while participating meaningfully in an international event. The president praised the delegation for its success and expressed his deepest appreciation for their efforts.
In remarks, the president stated that Mr. Lien Chan (連戰), the leader of the delegation who attended the event on his behalf, held discussions during the meetings with mainland Chinese leader Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), addressing Taiwan's desire to participate in the International Civil Aviation Organization. Mr. Lien received a positive response from Mr. Hu during the talks on this matter, he said. In addition, Mr. Lien also held discussions with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was representing the United States at the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM). The two reached a consensus to resume work in preparation for the recommencement of negotiations under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement between Taiwan and the United States. The United States will send high-ranking officials to Taiwan to engage in bilateral talks on economic and trade topics of mutual interest. These talks, the president said, are expected to pave the way for the further advancement and strengthening of the trade and economic relationship between the two countries.
President Ma specially praised Mr. Lien for his tireless work during the event and for achieving the goals set forth for him. The president stated that he spoke with Mr. Lien over the telephone a number of times during the course of the APEC activities, and he reiterated his appreciation to Mr. Lien for his outstanding performance and important contributions, as well as to the entire delegation for their efforts and hard work.
Moments after the meeting with President Ma, the delegation held a press conference at the Presidential Office, where Mr. Lien described the events at the APEC Economic Leaders' Week and the achievements of the ROC delegation. He also accepted questions from the media.
In remarks, Mr. Lien stated that APEC has long served as the main platform via which the ROC has sought to strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations, and has participated in regional multilateral cooperation and economic integration. Economic leaders from APEC members assembled under one roof during the AELM, he said, not only to discuss the state of the global economy, but also to focus on progress in regional economic integration and to exchange thoughts on important topics of mutual interest, such as strategies to promote innovation, achieve food security, and establish reliable supply chains.
Mr. Lien also expressed his gratitude to the ROC's APEC delegation that took part in this year's meetings, saying that work was divided up and handled appropriately. He added that government officials, advisors, and leaders from the corporate sector participated in the main assembly hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, banquets, and discussion groups at the CEO Summit. The achievements of the delegation were considerable, he added.
Mr. Lien also emphasized that participation in this year's events was extremely meaningful for both the ROC and other member nations, and the achievements of this year's meetings will have an important impact in the future.