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Updated Friday, February 13, 2009 9:47 am TWN, CNA

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Taiwan hopes to join talks of ASEAN labor ministers

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- President Ma Ying-jeou proposed yesterday that Taiwan be invited to take part in the labor ministers meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) so as to allow the country to contribute to the resolution of regional labor issues.

Ma raised the issue while receiving Peter Favila, trade and industry secretary of the Philippines, who is in Taiwan to attend the 16th ministerial level economic cooperation meeting between the two countries.

More than 360,000 foreign laborers are currently employed to work in Taiwan, with those from Southeast Asia forming the largest group, including some 75,000 from the Philippines.

Ma told Favila that Taiwan expects to engage in closer cooperation with the Philippines and to participate in the development of the ASEAN free trade area.

He said that Taiwan began discussions with the Philippines issues concerning the prevention of double taxation in 2002, and expressed the hope that a related agreement could be signed as soon as possible.

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