The Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Committee (ECC) will hold its second round of regularly scheduled meetings Nov. 1 in the mainland Chinese city of Hangzhou, according to the Straits Exchange Foundation Oct. 27.
Formed after Taipei and Beijing signed the landmark Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) last June, the ECC is a platform for the two sides to resolve economic and trade issues in the post-ECFA era.
“During the upcoming meeting, representatives will review the progress that has been made in six areas, namely the ECFA early-harvest list, industrial and customs service cooperation, and four ECFA-related agreements,” the SEF said in a press release.
In addition, the SEF added, the two sides will review other tasks to be undertaken before the next round of ECC meetings, and explore the possibility of setting up trade representative offices on each side.
Headed by SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian and Ministry of Economic Affairs Deputy Minister Francis Liang, the Taiwanese delegation to Hangzhou will consist of officials from the SEF, MOEA, Ministry of Finance, Mainland Affairs Council and Council for Economic Planning and Development.
Kao and his counterpart ARATS Deputy Chairman Zheng Lizhong are the conveners of the ECC, which meets alternately in Taiwan and mainland China twice a year. The first ECC meeting took place Feb. 22 in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
In related news, SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung said Oct. 27 in Beijing that whether to set up trade representative offices on each side is an issue that requires further discussion. The SEF will negotiate with its counterpart following the specific course of action determined by the ROC government, he added.
“The matter cannot not be settled at one go,” Chiang said.
Rachel Chan
Taiwan Today