Taiwan’s representative to the Philippines, Gary Lin, says that he is optimistic that the New Year will bring stronger, closer relations between Taiwan and the Philippines.
Speaking on Thursday, Lin encouraged Taiwanese businesses to seriously consider making the Philippines a springboard for expansion into Southeast Asia.
Lin said that 2015 will bring progress in a number of areas. He said that the results of a feasibility study on a bilateral Economic Cooperation Agreement will come out this year. He also said that Taiwan and the Philippines hope to sign a fisheries enforcement agreement and set up an electronic visa system.
Lin said that 2015 should also see progress towards the prosecution of Philippine coast guard members responsible for firing on an unarmed Taiwanese fishing vessel in 2013, removing another stumbling block in bilateral relations.
Lin looked back on progress the two countries made towards strengthening relations in 2014, including official meetings on economic and legal cooperation.
Lin said that last year, the value of bilateral trade reached US$12 billion in 2014, while Taiwanese and Filipinos visited each other’s countries 230,000 times.
He said that he believes 2015 will bring more exchanges in areas such as trade, technology, tourism, culture, and education.