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DOHA |
Wednesday, January 02,
2002
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Taiwan joins WTO and will gradually open
up to China
Press Trust of India
Taipei, January 1: Taiwan on Tuesday formally joined
the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and said it would gradually
open up direct trade with its huge neighbour and rival China.
The government would first relax cross-strait trade and open
Chinese investment in Taiwan’s service industry the cabinet-level
Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in a statement.
‘‘The cabinet has already set its direction for policy adjustment
and is finalising details. It would make the announcement in
the next few days,’’ said the council, which formulates Taiwan’s
China policy.
‘‘Taiwan will do its best to comply with World Trade Organisation
rules and move toward the direction of liberalisation in handling
of cross-strait trade.’’‘‘The government would gradually open
(trade with China after taking into consideration the impact
to local businesses and giving them some time as a grace period
to adjust.’’
Taiwan became the 144th WTO member following in the footsteps
of China which ended its 15-year battle for World Trade Organisation
membership in December.
Meanwhile, Taiwan’s president Chen Shui-Bian pledged to promote
a ‘‘constructive cooperative relationship’’ with China as the
island formally joined the World Trade Organisation at the start
of 2002.
‘‘Today, Taiwan’s accession to the World Trade Organisation
as its 144th member marks a highly significant milestone. We
will not only fulfill our obligations as a member of the global
community, but also view future cross-strait relations from
a perspective of cooperation,’’ Chen said in a prepared message.
He urged Beijing to drop its military threat against the island
so the two territories, separated in 1949 at the end of a civil
war, could achieve permanent peace and integration.
China has said it would use force should Taiwan move towards
formal independence.
‘‘If the Chinese mainland can renounce military intimidation
and respect the people’s free will, the two sides can begin
with integration in the cultural, economic and trade fields,
before further seeking a new framework for permanent peace and
political integration,’’ Chen said.
China and Taiwan should pursue the same goal of peaceful co-existence
and mutual prosperity, and neither side should harm the other,
Chen said.
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