The 2013 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week will be held in Bali, Indonesia in October. President Ma Ying-jeou has appointed former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) to serve as his Leader's Representative at the event.
President Ma said that former Vice President Siew has a strong understanding of economic, trade, and diplomatic issues, as he was once the minister of economic affairs and has previously served four times as the Leader's Representative at APEC. Mr. Siew also maintains strong friendship ties with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other leaders in the region. The president expressed confidence that former Vice President Siew's expertise and relationships will undoubtedly help to enhance Taiwan's influence in the economic and trade sphere in the Asia-Pacific, and he will do a very good job of updating the international community on Taiwan's economy and the state of cross-strait relations. Mr. Siew's appointment highlights Taiwan's determination to take active part in regional economic integration, the president commented.
President Ma has asked Mr. Siew to brief international friends on the latest economic developments in Taiwan and our efforts to promote stable cross-strait relations, including the signing of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, the Cross-Strait Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement, and the Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement. Other significant breakthroughs to be mentioned include: the signing of the Taiwan-Japan Bilateral Investment Arrangement; resumption of negotiations with the United States under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement; the signing of the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC); and negotiations with Singapore on an economic cooperation agreement that are nearing fruition. At the same time, former Vice President Siew will also express Taiwan's desire to strengthen its economic and trade cooperation and relationships with other major trading partners in a bid to create the conditions that will allow Taiwan to participate in regional economic integration and further develop cross-strait economic and trade ties.