ECFA and East Asian Economic Integration

ECFA and East Asian Economic Integration
Opening Remarks by Tsai Hsun-hsiung,
Chairman of Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Inc.
Technology Economics Group
Translated by Bevin Chu
April 22, 2011
Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

Vice President Siew, foreign guests, ladies and gentlemen, how do you do!

One. The purpose of the seminar.

I am honored to be here as the opening speaker for the International Conference on ECFA and East Asian Economic Integration. The presence of so many important people, confirms that this is an important issue. In recent years, bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs) between nations, or free trade zones formed by several nations, has become an unmistakable trend. In June 2010, Taipei and Beijing signed an historic cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement, or ECFA. These two developments have had a significant impact on cross-Strait economic exchanges and trade. But more than that, they have had a huge impact on East Asian trade. Therefore, inviting scholars from nations throughout East Asia and convening such a meeting at this time is particularly meaningful.

This symposium is the result of a research project, "The Republic of China's Strategy for Economic and Industrial Technology Cooperation with the Major Nations of East Asia," which was commissioned by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, and carried out by the National Policy Foundation.

This research project addresses the era introduced by the signing of ECFA. It asks how the Republic of China can strengthen economic and industrial and technical cooperation with the major nations of East Asia. It explores the possibility of free trade agreements. This project was divided into three parts: Regional integration in the East Asian region and its impact on Taiwan's economic, industrial, and technological development. Economic, industrial, and technological cooperation strategy between the Republic of China and the major East Asian nations. Cross-Strait economic, industrial, and technological cooperation strategies under East Asian regional integration. We hope the completion of the project will help the Republic of China increase cooperation with East Asian nations. We hope the signing of the cross-Strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) will create new opportunities for economic cooperation with East Asian nations.

The research team has held three seminars on Taiwan. It has also visited think tanks and industrial research organizations in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, and Malaysia. It has conducted highly fruitful, in-depth interviews. Today, scholars from many East Asian nations have been invited to Taiwan, to participate in an International Seminar on ECFA and Economic Integration in East Asia. We hope that domestic and foreign experts, including Ken Waller, Director of the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University; Robert Scollay, Director of the New Zealand APEC Study Centre; Tong Yueting, Assistant Professor at the East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore; Somkiat Tangkitvanich, Vice President of the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation; Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu, Research Fellow with the Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation; and Eiji Ogawa, Vice President of Hitotsubashi University; and others, will offer wide-ranging suggestions in response to the preliminary research results of our project.

Two. Taiwan has an excellent investment environment and provides a springboard by which to enter the Mainland market.

Taiwan is a tiny island, lacking in natural resources. Yet it is a leader in information technology. It is among the highest volume manufacturers of high quality industrial products in the world. It boasts geographical advantages, high-tech production capabilities, the ability to innovate, a friendly investment and business environment. It has abundant human resources, a solid industrial base, and the public infrastructure and tax structure of an advanced industrial nation. According to "2010 World Competitiveness," a report issued by the Lausanne International Institute for Management Development, the Republic of China ranked 8th in the world. It was the nation showing the greatest improvement. If other nations invest in Taiwan, or strengthen cooperation with the Republic of China, the rewards will be enormous.

Also, with the rise of Mainland China, other nations see valuable opportunities in the Mainland market. Taiwan and Mainland China provide an advantage, because they have the same language and culture. Taiwan has considerable experience investing in Mainland China. Therefore Taiwan is the best partner for foreign investors when entering the Mainland market. Foreign investors can benefit from this. They can strengthen cooperation with Taiwan, and form partnerships prior to entering the Mainland market. This enables them to benefit from a multiplier effect.

Taiwan offers tremendous advantages. It is well suited to becoming an international R & D center, a producer of high value added products, as well as a springboard for foreign investors entering the Mainland market. We hope that when our guests return home, they can speak on behalf of economic, industrial, and technical cooperation between the Republic of China and their own nations. We hope they will invest in Taiwan, and sign free trade agreements with the Republic of China.

Three. Conclusions

First, scholars from Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and Japan will issue a special report. Then research experts from the Republic of China will offer their own comments. The invited scholars from home and abroad, are all leaders in their own field. On behalf of this research project, they will provide solid logic and comprehensive analysis. The results will be well worth the wait.

Vice President Vincent Siew will deliver the keynote speech. Vice President Siew is my old boss. He has a wealth of experience. He was once Republic of China premier, a member of the Republic of China Legislature, Chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Minister of Economic Affairs, and Vice Chairman of the KMT. He is a veteran of the legislature and the diplomatic service. He is an expert in economics and trade, with extensive experience in political affairs, Mainland relations. and trade negotiations. He is eminently familiar with the theme of this conference. His presentation is certain to be fascinating.

Now let us give a hearty welcome to Vice President Siew, who will deliver the keynote speech!


蔡董事長勳雄出席「ECFA與東亞經濟整合」國際學術研討會開幕致詞參考稿

（Opening Ceremony, Tsai, Hsung-Hsiung

Chairman, Sinotech Engineering Concultants, INC）

科技經濟組

蕭副總統、遠道而來的各位國外貴賓、各位女士、各位先生，大家好！

一、舉辦此次研討會的目的

今天本人很榮幸能受邀擔任ECFA與東亞經濟整合國際學術研討會的開幕致詞貴賓。看到在場這麼有多人參與盛會，就知道這個議題的重要了。近年來，兩國間簽訂自由貿易協定（FTA），或是於區域間成立自由貿易區已經蔚為潮流，台灣與中國大陸也於去（2010）年六月簽署具有歷史意義的兩岸經濟合作架構協議（ECFA），這二件大事不但對兩岸經貿發展有重大影響，亦對東亞經貿產生很大的影響，因此，在此時邀請東亞各國學者，召開此一會議，特別具有意義。

這次研討會的召開，主要是經濟部技術處委託財團法人國家政策研究基金會所進行的「我國與東亞主要國家經濟與產業技術合作策略」研究計畫，該項研究計畫主要係探討後ECFA時代，台灣如何與東亞主要國家進一步加強經濟與產業技術合作，甚至探討與其簽訂自由貿易協定的可能性。計畫分為三個子計畫，分別為：東亞區域整合趨勢下對於台灣經濟與產業技術發展影響之探討、台灣與東亞主要國家之經濟及產業技術合作策略，以及東亞區域整合下兩岸經濟及產業技術合作策略等。計畫完成後，預期將有助於我國推動與東亞各國深入合作，並透過兩岸經濟合作架構協議（ECFA）簽署的機會，尋求台灣在東亞地區的經濟合作新契機。

研究團隊已經在國內舉行三場座談會，並分赴日本、南韓、新加坡、泰國、紐西蘭、澳洲、菲律賓與馬來西亞等國的智庫與產業研究單位，進行深入的訪談，成果相當豐碩。今天更邀請東亞各國的學者來台灣，舉行ECFA與東亞經濟整合國際研討會，希望透過國內外專家包括澳洲RMIT 大學APEC研究中心執行長Ken Waller（Director, the Australian APEC Study Centre at RMIT University）；紐西蘭APEC研究中心執行長Robert Scollay（Director, New Zealand APEC Study Centre）；新加坡國立大學東亞研究中心童月婷助理教授（Tong Yueting：Assistant Professor, East Asian Institute, National University of Singapore）；泰國發展研究院的Somkiat Tangkitvanich副院長（Vice President, Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation）與Saowaruj Rattanakhamfu研究員（Research Fellow, Thailand Development Research Institute Foundation）；及日本一橋大學Eiji Ogawa副校長（Vice President, Hitotsubashi University）等人的討論，對於我們這次計畫的初步研究成果，提供廣泛的建議。

二、台灣擁有優異的投資環境並為進軍大陸市場跳板

台灣縱然僅是蕞爾小島，缺乏天然資源，卻是全球知名的資訊科技大國，諸多產品產量高居世界第一，具有優越的區位優勢、高科技產業生產與創新能力、友善的投資與經營環境，並在人力資源、產業基礎、公共基礎建設及租稅等層面，皆具有先進國家的條件與水準。根據瑞士洛桑管理學院公布的「2010年世界競爭力」排名，台灣排名世界第8名，是進步最大的國家。各國若能來台投資或與台灣在個領域加強合作，效益將十分可期。

此外，面對中國大陸的崛起，各國均覬覦大陸上場的龐大商機。而台灣與中國大陸具有同文同種的優勢，台灣在大陸投資經驗相當豐富。因此台商可謂是外商進軍中國大陸的最佳伙伴，外商若能善加利用此一特性，加強與台商合作，並肩合作進軍大陸市場，必能達到事半功倍的效果。

由於台灣優異的條件與背景，相當適合成為國際研發與設計中心，與生產高附加價值產品，並為外商進軍大陸市場的跳板。希望各位外賓回國後，能代為宣傳，以促進台灣與各國的經濟與產業技術合作、來台灣投資，並與台灣簽訂自由貿易協定。

三、結語

今日研討會的進行，將先由澳洲、澳洲、新加坡、泰國及日本等國的學者發表專題報告，再由我國研究該區域的專家提出評論。此次邀請的國內外的學者，均是該領域研究的翹楚，為了這個研究案，他們又進行了扎實而完整的思考及探索，內容頗值得期待。

今日的會議，首先，請蕭萬長副總統為大家進行一場專題演講，蕭副總統是我的老長官，閱歷相當豐富，曾任中華民國行政院院長、立法委員、大陸委員會主任委員、經濟部部長與中國國民黨副主席，兼具國會、外交、經貿、大陸事務與政黨事務經歷，而在經貿談判的事務上，更有豐富的經歷，對於本次學術研討會的主題相當熟悉，演講內容勢必相當精采。

以下就讓我們以最熱烈的掌聲歡迎蕭副總統為我們所進行專題演講！