President Ma Pledges Taiwan's Commitment To Joining TPP

President Ma Ying-jeou says that Taiwan is fully committed to meeting membership requirements for the Trans-Pacific Partnership. That's a multilateral free trade agreement that aims to spur economic development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ma made the comments on Thursday while meeting with Taiwanese delegates returning from this year's Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Hawaii. Ma said that Asia's regional economy is particularly important now, as the world faces pressure from debt issues in the United States and Europe.

The president said that Taiwan's representative to the leaders' summit, Lien Chan, made the nation's goal clear.

"Lien Chan said at the conference that we hope to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership," said Ma. "As you all know, we are not yet ready to join at present. Aside from issues of economics, there are certain political obstacles. But we must be determined to take this approach. If we don't, we will find it difficult to have a place in regional economic integration."

Ma said Taiwan tried to enter the World Trade Organization for 12 years before it was finally admitted as a member. He said he believes that membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership will not take as long.

ENDS

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