President Ma Ying-jeou met on the morning of November 6 with Japan Interchange Association Chairman Mitsuo Ohashi. The president expressed satisfaction with the Taiwan-Japan Arrangement for Mutual Cooperation on Electronic Commerce and four other bilateral pacts signed the day before, saying they would enhance bilateral ties. He also called for continued strengthening of the economic and trade relationship.
In remarks, President Ma noted that the purpose of this visit to Taiwan by Chairman Ohashi was to sign the Taiwan-Japan Arrangement for Mutual Cooperation on Electronic Commerce, the Taiwan-Japan Arrangement for the Establishment of a Framework for Cooperation on Medical Products Regulation, the Memorandum of Understanding for Mutual Cooperation in the Field of Priority Document Exchange, the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of High-speed Rail Transportation, and the Agreement on Search and Rescue Operations Involving Aviation Accidents at Sea. This brings the number of documents signed by the two countries to 37, he said, noting that these last five address specific, practical matters and will undoubtedly enhance bilateral cooperative ties.
President Ma further stated that since Taiwan and Japan signed the Taiwan-Japan Bilateral Investment Arrangement two years ago, Japanese companies have been able to take advantage of the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) to use Taiwan as a springboard from which to expand their exports to mainland China. The president pointed out that the Taiwan-Japan Arrangement for Mutual Cooperation on Electronic Commerce and the Memorandum of Understanding for Mutual Cooperation in the Field of Priority Document Exchange will, in conjunction with the ECFA, further enhance the bilateral cooperative trade and economic relationship.
As for regional economic integration, President Ma pointed out, Taiwan and New Zealand have signed the Agreement between New Zealand and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu on Economic Cooperation (ANZTEC), and noted that Taiwan and Singapore are about to sign an economic partnership agreement. In the future, he said, Taiwan will step up the pace in its efforts to take part in regional economic integration, and the scope of this integration will be further expanded, so he hopes that economic and trade ties between Taiwan and Japan, its second largest trading partner, can be enhanced. The president called for an even broader and higher-level arrangement that can further promote trade and economic dealings and add further depth to the bilateral relationship.
President Ma stated that Japan has already decided to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and that Taiwan continues working to create the conditions to enable its eventual entry into the TPP. Taiwan also desires to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), he remarked, adding that these goals indicate that Taiwan and Japan are on the same page in pursuing regional economic integration, so he hopes that both sides can cooperate more closely and enable the corporate sectors of both countries to enjoy the advantages of greater free trade.
In discussing progress in interaction and cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, the president noted that the signing of a fisheries agreement between the two sides in April of this year has peacefully resolved a dispute and provided a method for pursuing regional peace. President Ma said that the agreement has won wide praise in the international community. Meanwhile, he remarked, former Vice President Vincent C. Siew (蕭萬長) met this past October with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the 21st APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The two exchanged opinions on a wide range of topics, including further enhancement of bilateral interaction, the president said, adding that the meeting lasted longer than originally scheduled. As for tourism, President Ma noted, the number of tourist visits between the two nations this year has already passed the 2.99 million mark tallied last year, setting a new high. And, due to depreciation of the Japanese yen, the number of visits to Japan by Taiwanese in the first nine months of this year is already nearing 1.8 million, up 54% year-on-year. President Ma said he hopes that visits between Taiwan and Japan will continue to rise, thereby further enhancing mutual interaction and cooperation.
Chairman Ohashi was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan's Interchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Sumio Tarui to meet President Ma.