Author: Taiwan APPG

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Regional Visit : Gloucester

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The MP for Gloucester, Richard Graham, recently welcomed Ambassador Liu to the city to meet with executives from several leading energy companies.

The Ambassador, who was accompanied by officials from the TRO’s economic affairs team, met with representatives from EDF Energy, AMEC and Tidal Lagoon Power for talks about potential Taiwanese investment and export opportunities.

During the visit, the team learned more about EDF and AMEC’s work in nuclear power and nuclear decommissioning in addition to Tidal Lagoon Power’s pioneering work on alternative tidal energy.

The visit, which forms part of Ambassador Liu’s efforts to promote collaboration with local regions in the United Kingdom, also aimed to present Taiwan based opportunities to Gloucester businesses, so they may consider exporting their services to the Far East, whilst attracting international interest in so doing.

Ambassador Liu’s visit comes amid the ROC Government’s increasing interest in the fields of nuclear de-commissioning and alternative sources of energy, as Taiwan looks to adapt its power generation to the needs of the future.

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Regional Visit: Derbyshire

A Taiwanese business delegation led by Ambassador Liu visited Derbyshire in late January to build on economic links between the UK and Taiwan.

The trip, organised by Heather Wheeler, MP for South Derbyshire, forms part of a series of visits at sites across the UK, which aim to provide small and medium sized enterprises access to the Taiwanese market.

The delegation spent time in both Derby and Uttoxeter, where they visited a number of firms interested in exporting or winning business contracts in Taiwan.

Ambassador Liu stated that a strong economy and a growing consumer market, mean Taiwan is well-placed to serve as a gateway to other East Asian markets, including mainland China.

The trip comes amid increasing development in the UK-Taiwan bilateral relationship, which now amounts to over £5 billion. Overall, Taiwan’s direct business collaboration with local regions within the UK, looks set to further enhance the relations of both countries.

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Statement on Improving Cross-Strait Relations

The spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today:

“The High Representative warmly welcomes the meeting between high officials in charge of Cross-Strait relations from both sides of the Taiwan Strait taking place today, 11 February, in Nanjing. The event demonstrates the level of trust reached since the current process of rapprochement was established in 2008, with increasing people-to-people exchanges, practical cooperation and economic links. The High Representative encourages both sides to continue to take initiatives that further develop Cross-Strait relations in a peaceful way.”

See also statement from the co-chairs of the British-Taiwanese APPG:

statement

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Interview With Taiwan Central News Agency

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In an interview on June 4 with Taiwan’s Central News Agency, Lord Faulkner of Worcester and Lord Steel of Aikwood, co-chairs of the British-Taiwanese APPG, expressed support for the ROC’s position on the recent shooting attack on the Taiwan fishing boat Guang Da Xing No. 28 (GDX 28) by a Philippine government vessel.

They also said that the actions of the Philippine government vessel, which pursued the Taiwan fishing boat for a considerable number of minutes in the overlapping exclusive economic zones between the ROC and the Philippines and fired nearly 60 bullets at the Taiwan fishing boat, could not be tolerated in a civilized society and were inexcusable.

See Press Release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ROC (Taiwan).

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Early Day Motion 2216

TAIWAN’S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION AND UN FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Session: 2010-2012
Date tabled: 10.10.2011
Primary sponsor: Andrew Rosindell
Sponsors: David Amess, Peter Bottomley, Jim Dobbin, Mike Hancock, Jim Shannon

That this House supports Taiwan’s continued efforts to participate in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO); commends the fact that the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on 11 May 2011 reiterating its support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation as an observer in relevant international organisations, such as the UNFCCC, World Health Organisation and ICAO; recognises that Taiwan is a key transport hub in international air travel, serving more than one million flights and 40 million passengers per year; notes that Taiwan suffers unnecessary obstacles in terms of remaining up to date with the latest ICAO standards and procedures as a result of its exclusion, which leads to risks to international aviation safety; further recognises that, being deeply integrated in the global economy, Taiwan both contributes to and is affected by global warming; acknowledges that Taiwan can contribute to and benefit from global coordination against climate change via participation in the UNFCCC; and calls on the Government to support efforts for Taiwan to be invited to participate in the meetings and activities of ICAO and UNFCCC as an observer.

 

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Early Day Motion 2215

TAIWAN-EU ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AGREEMENT

Session: 2010-12
Date tabled: 10.10.2011
Primary sponsor: Andrew Rosindell
Sponsors: David Amess, Peter Bottomley, Jim Dobbin, Mike Hancock, Jim Shannon

“That this House supports the signing of an Economic Co-operation Agreement between the EU and Taiwan; notes the rapprochement between the two governments across the Taiwan Strait, which has so far led to the signing of 15 mutual agreements, including the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which reduces the trade barriers of mainland China’s market to products of Taiwanese origin and vice versa; acknowledges that the expansion of cross-strait economic relations is in the interest of those on both sides and of the EU; recognises that Taiwan achieved 10.88 per cent. GDP growth in 2010, is the EU’s 14th largest trading partner globally and its 6th largest trading partner in Asia, with total trade volume of 37 billion; observes that Taiwan’s high-tech industry, economic growth and expanding trade provide a mutually beneficial opportunity for co-operation between the EU and Taiwan; commends the fact that the European Parliament unanimously passed a resolution on 11 May 2011 supporting the further strengthening of Taiwan-EU trade and economic ties and the signing of a bilateral economic co-operation agreement; and calls on the Government to encourage the EU to conduct negotiations with Taiwan with the goal of agreeing a Taiwan-EU Economic Co-operation Agreement.”