Taiwan has been importing a great variety of goods from Chile, including the king crab, abalone, wine, apples, peaches, cherries, and fabrics, amounting to an average of US$1.7 billion annually, Ko said in a recent interview with the Chilean newspaper El Diario.

Although Taiwan and Chile do not maintain diplomatic relations, the two countries share close cultural and trade exchanges, Ko indicated. About 1,200 Taiwanese business people are currently based in Chile, most of whom are earning a steady income. "They are creating jobs for the locals", said Ko.

He added that more than 400 Taiwanese business people from all over the world will converge in Santiago, Chile's capital, Jan. 26-28 to vacation and evaluate the country's investment environment.

Touching on bilateral cultural exchanges, Ko said the geographical distance between Taiwan and Chile is a barrier to mutual understanding of the two nations. To promote a better understanding, Taiwan has been offering scholarships to Chile's college students, he noted, and there are now 12 Chilean students in Taiwan studying various subjects, including information technology, medicine, and electronics.

In the interview, Ko was also asked whether there are any solutions to break the current political impasse across the Taiwan Strait. Ko gave a negative answer, saying that "at least there is none in the present time." But he noted that the situation does not necessarily undermine cross-strait commercial exchanges.

"China has already become Taiwan's largest trading partner," he said. "It is a pity that such a development has not changed the political situation."

Ko pointed out that China, being a permanent member of U.N. Security Council, has repeatedly blocked Taiwan's bid for a seat in the U.N.