New Zealand’s new envoy to Taiwan, Mark Pearson, says he is happy to be back in the dynamic and exciting city of Taipei. That statement came during a bilingual address published on Facebook, which also included greetings in New Zealand’s indigenous language – Māori.
Pearson is assuming the post of the director of the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office. He says he is excited to be back in Taiwan, which he has visited many times in the past. Pearson says he hopes Taiwan and New Zealand will continue to develop friendly relations and strengthen cooperation, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a press release from the New Zealand Commerce and Industry Office, Pearson has previously served as New Zealand’s chief advisor to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. During his career at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, he specialized in trade, international security, and diplomacy. His previous assignments included two positions as deputy ambassador – in Tokyo, Japan and in Seoul, South Korea.