February 17, 2013
No. 013
"It is always a pleasure to greet friends from afar". Many foreign guests have come to Taiwan and called on the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) to exchange views with officials at the MAC on the latest cross-strait developments, and to also experience the friendly and diversified aspects of Taiwan. Taiwan’s diplomatic ally Belize’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and Sustainable Development Liselle Alamilla was among visitors who called on the MAC, during which she affirmed Taiwan's efforts in ecological sustainable development and voiced strong support for Taiwan's admission into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In addition, youngsters who have worked as political party staff, congressional aides, reporters or acted as student body leaders from the United States, Canada, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other countries were also highly interested in cross-strait affairs and have also visited the MAC, during which they seized every opportunity to speak out and participate in discussion.
On average, the MAC receives a foreign delegation every other day; there were over 110 delegations with over 500 foreign guests who had visited the MAC last year. The MAC strongly believes that stable development of cross-strait relations plays a significant part in the international arena.
Of all the foreign guests who visited the MAC, many were government officials at the ministerial level, congressional leaders and members, Taiwan Friendship Group members in respective countries, think tank members and scholars. Some visited Taiwan in their individual capacity while others on behalf of their institutions. Issues that interested guests include the current status of cross-strait exchanges, implications of institutionalized cross-strait negotiations, implementation effectiveness of cross-strait agreements, and impact of negotiations on cross-strait developments; while issues that stirred most responses and discussions were those related to the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), Mainland tourists and students in Taiwan for tourism or study purposes, and the influence Taiwan has on the Mainland in terms of soft power such as freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law.
Taiwan's continued success in steadily attracting foreign guests owes not only to long term dedication of foreign affairs related government departments, but also more importantly to the easing and stable development of cross-strait relations which facilitates regional peace, broadens Taiwan’s international space, and has thereby gained recognition and affirmation in the international society.
While receiving foreign guests on their visits, the MAC not only explains the latest development in the government’s Mainland policy and updates the cross-strait situation, but also impresses guests with a sincere demonstration of friendship, enthusiasm and professionalism. In the future, the MAC will continue to follow the concept of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people", promote the Mainland policy with the “promoting and guarding the country” principle in mind, and further broaden cross-strait relations under the premise of ensuring national security, dignity and the people's well-being so as to lay a solid foundation for peace in the East Asia region.