Japan welcomes Taiwan’s application for entry into the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). That was the word from foreign ministry spokesperson Joanne Ou on Tuesday.
Taiwan’s Cabinet Minister without Portfolio John Deng said that Taiwan’s chances of getting into the CPTPP are high, but Japan’s representative office in Taipei said that remark might be too optimistic. The CPTPP is an 11-nation free trade pact and Japan chairs the CPTPP’s decision making body.
Ou says Japan is one of Taiwan’s important friends. She said Taiwan thanks the Japanese government for its long-term support of Taiwan especially in its application to enter the CPTPP. Ou said in the future, Taiwan will push for more regional trade cooperation with the eleven member states to bring stability and prosperity to the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Premier Su Tseng-chang said that Taiwan relies on international trade. Su said the government will vie for this opportunity to help Taiwan’s economy and the welfare of the Taiwanese people.
Economics Minister Wang Mei-hua also thanked Japan for welcoming Taiwan to join the CPTPP. Wang said large scale regional economic integration such as the CPTPP is a very important opportunity for Taiwan. She said Taiwan needs to work hard to join the trade pact as there are many other countries that are vying to enter as well.