President Ma also believes that the improvement in cross-strait relations has paved the way for Taiwan to maintain stronger ties with the United States and Japan. Consequently, Taiwan is able to simultaneously maintain friendly relations with the United States, Japan, and mainland China, which are the world's three largest economic entities. This, he said, is precisely the objective of Taiwan's diplomatic policies.
With regard to external trade, President Ma stated that even though tariff reductions and elimination of non-tariff barriers have only been achieved for about 20% of goods and services since the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement took effect on September 12, 2010, the fact remains that trade creation has taken place, and Taiwan's reliance on trade with mainland China has not increased. In addition, progress has been made toward achievement of the government's goal of diversifying Taiwan's export markets. President Ma said the government will continue working to create the conditions that will enable it to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership within the next 10 years.
President Ma also mentioned that the results of the presidential election completed here in January show that the public supports the government's efforts to promote prosperity, clean and competent government, and peace in the Taiwan Strait. The new Cabinet took office on February 6 and in the future the government will continue to pursue the eight visions—"a robust economy," "a just society," "clean and competent government," "environmental sustainability," "high-quality culture and education," "well-rounded development," "cross-strait peace," and "friendly relations with the international community"—as the path to creation of a "Golden Decade for Taiwan."
Prof. Wakabayashi was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Mainland Affairs Council Deputy Minister Chang Hsien-yao (張顯耀), Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Shen-Yeaw Ko (柯森耀), and Arthur S. Ding (丁樹範), Director of the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-jen (胡為真).
【Source: Office of the President】