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On the morning of March 2, President Tsai Ing-wen met with Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei Jim Nickel. In remarks, President Tsai noted that Taiwan and Canada have jointly announced the official launch of negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement, demonstrating the steady advancement of our bilateral partnership. The president also expressed hope that Canada will support Taiwan's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) so that we can make even greater progress together.
A translation of President Tsai's remarks follows:
Welcome to the Presidential Office. Executive Director Nickel, you have been very active since assuming your new position last September. In October, you accompanied a delegation of Canadian parliamentarians to the Presidential Office. With pandemic restrictions having now been further eased, I am delighted to officially welcome you to Taiwan to take up this new post. I look forward to exchanging opinions with you on a variety of topics.
In recent years, Taiwan and Canada have continued to strengthen cooperation across the board. Indeed, just last month our nations jointly announced the official launch of negotiations on a foreign investment promotion and protection arrangement. This demonstrates the steady advancement of our bilateral partnership.
The economies of Taiwan and Canada are highly complementary. Taiwan is making every effort to join the CPTPP and hopes that Canada will support our accession to this trade bloc, so that we can promote greater global prosperity together. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian government for staunchly backing Taiwan's international participation and for voicing support for Taiwan at important international venues such as the World Health Assembly (WHA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The new policy direction in Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy makes it clear that Canada recognizes the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and that it will continue to strengthen its partnership with Taiwan. I want to once again thank the Canadian government for valuing and supporting Taiwan.
Taiwan is committed to working with Canada and other like-minded partners to uphold security, stability, and prosperity across the Indo-Pacific region. Moving forward, I am confident that with the assistance of Executive Director Nickel, cooperation between Taiwan and Canada will grow even closer and broader. Let's work together to achieve even greater progress.
Executive Director Nickel then delivered remarks, saying that Canada and Taiwan's strong relationship is based on our shared values and principles, which include our commitments to democratic governance, human rights, gender equity and inclusion, a rules-based international order, and the rule of law at home.
Executive Director Nickel echoed President Tsai's sentiment that the complementarity of our two economies provides great mutual benefits and advances our shared interests. He said that Canada looks forward to strengthening its economic and commercial partnership with Taiwan, particularly given our shared interest in strengthening supply chain security for the transition to a green, net-zero economy and for economic digitalization.
Noting that people-to-people ties are the foundation of our bilateral relationship, Executive Director Nickel said that Canada hopes to further strengthen those ties through cultural, educational, and parliamentary exchanges as well as deeper engagement and exchanges between our indigenous peoples.
Executive Director Nickel also addressed President Tsai's remarks on Canada's recently released Indo-Pacific strategy, saying that this strategy provides Canada with the policy framework and the strategic direction for its engagement with Taiwan to further deepen our very valuable relationship.
Executive Director Nickel then thanked President Tsai for welcoming him to Taiwan and said that he felt very honored to be able to represent Canada here.
