Lien to push ECFA

“I hope my attendance at the upcoming summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum will contribute to the negotiations and eventual signing of the proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA),” said Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan.

Lien, a former vice president, will represent President Ma Ying-jeou at the annual summit meeting of APEC leaders set for Nov. 14-15 in Singapore.

However, when responding to reporters' questions at a news conference, Lien said he will not initiate the beef trade issues when meeting with U.S. representatives.

Lien said he supports the policy of the Ma administration to ease the imports of American beef products in line with the spirit of the World Trade Organization and the World Animal Health Organization.

Lien said he expects to have the opportunity of meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama and other American officials in Singapore.

But he stressed that he supports the government's attitude of upholding the newly signed Taiwan-U.S. trade protocol concerning the controversial beef import issues.

Lien added that he has not been directed to discuss this topic.

The former vice president also said he looks forward to holding bilateral talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the APEC summit,

As Taiwanese and Chinese officials in charge of economic affairs are attending the annual APEC Leaders' Week activities in the Southeast Asian city-state that began Nov. 8, Lien said the occasion presents a good opportunity for the two sides to strike conclusions on various points in terms of previous rounds of informal talks on ECFA-related topics.

“I will help arrange for officials from the two sides to exchange views on ECFA issues on the APEC sidelines,” Lien said, adding that such consultations will help pave the way for the two sides to enter formal negotiations on the agreement.

Like free trade agreements signed between many countries around the world, an ECFA would permit the freer cross-strait flow of many goods, capital, and interchange concerning the service sector.

Nevertheless, the government here has said the pact will not include further opening to China's agricultural goods and will not allow Chinese laborers to enter Taiwan, to minimize any possible adverse economic and social impact from the pact.

Asked whether he will touch on political issues — such as the signing of a cross-strait peace agreement and the establishment of a military trust mechanism — in his talks with Hu, Lien pointed out that it would be inappropriate for him to bring up such topics at the APEC occasion.

“The most important thing in cross-strait engagements now is to work out major economic issues that have been delayed for a long time,” said Lien, who is scheduled to depart for Singapore Thursday.

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