Taipei, Oct. 22 (CNA) Vice President Annette Lu Tuesday told a senior executive of Microsoft that Microsoft's plan to set up a software technology center in Taiwan corresponds to Taiwan's science and technology research and development targets.
Lu received Microsoft's Senior Vice President and General Counsel Brad Smith who is currently visiting Taiwan to seek cooperative opportunities with the government sector as well as industries in software development and applications.
While the Fair Trade Commission is about to announce its decision over an arbitration on Microsoft's trade practices in Taiwan in the coming weeks, Lu's meeting with Smith aroused speculation that the international corporation is trying to lobby for a favorable outcome.
Lu clarified that although the government is expecting a favorable response from Microsoft, the Fair Trade Commission will make an independent decision on whether Microsoft is monopolizing Taiwan's office software market.
Smith also stated that Microsoft fully honors Taiwan's administration and its legal system. While offering its absolute cooperation in the investigation, the corporation is looking forward to achieving a settlement, he added.
He said that Microsoft expects to contribute to Taiwan's industrial advancement with its technologies and resources, especially in the fields of education, capital markets, protection of intellectual property rights, legal systems, and market mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Group Vice President Orlando Ayala is scheduled to call on Premier Yu Shyi-kun Wednesday to discuss proposals from Microsoft to help with the development of Taiwan's software industry.
Although the timing of the meeting is seen by several legislators as "not proper," Premier Yu said that he will not cancel the appointment because the government is interested in attracting foreign investments.
He also reaffirmed that the meeting has nothing to do with the arbitration of the Fair Trade Commission, and the Cabinet will not interfere in the commission's investigations.