Taiwan gearing up preparations for TPP, RCEP participation

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) Taiwan is stepping up its efforts to gain entry into two proposed Asia-Pacific trade blocs, with a group of the country's overseas envoys set to gather in Taipei to help with the preparations.

The envoys, posted mainly in countries involved in the trade bloc negotiations, will attend a seminar being held to find ways to gain support abroad for Taiwan's bids to join the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a Taiwanese official said.

One of the topics likely to be discussed will be the challenges Taiwan faces in signing economic agreements with other countries, said John Lai, director-general of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The seminar will also include a briefing on Taiwan's free economic pilot zones and visits to central and southern Taiwan, Lai said at regular news conference.

"It is aimed at giving the overseas representatives a better understanding of the country's trade liberalization efforts," he said.

The four-day seminar, organized by the ministries of foreign and economic affairs, will start Feb. 17.

Taiwan's representatives to Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, India, Peru, Chile, Canada and Mexico are expected to return for the seminar, according to the Foreign Ministry.

According to a diplomatic source, Taiwan's representative to the United States King Pu-tsung will not return to attend the seminar, but Taiwan's deputy representative to the U.S. will be present.

King was appointed secretary-general of the National Security Council on Feb. 7.

Taiwan's current representative to the United Kingdom Shen Lyushun, who will succeed King as the country's representative in the U.S., will return to attend the seminar, the source said.

The TPP currently is being negotiated by the U.S. and 11 Pacific Rim nations -- Japan, Australia, Peru, Malaysia, Vietnam, New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, Canada, Mexico and Brunei.

The RCEP is being negotiated by all 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, along with China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Taiwan has repeatedly reiterated its desire to join the two trade blocs to avoid being economically marginalized in the region.

The government has pushed aggressively to liberalize Taiwan's economy to prepare for a free trade environment, and has said it would continue to communicate the need for economic reform to the public while seeking the support of other countries.

It has set a goal of completing the preparations for Taiwan's TPP bid by July, the Cabinet said. 

Source: focustaiwan.tw