President Ma Hopes ECFA to Be Inked by Early 2010

Taipei, Sept. 15, 2009 (CENS)--The government will try its best to sign the cross-Taiwan Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) by the end of this year or early next year, said President Ma Ying-jeou yesterday (Sept. 14).

In a meeting with ruling KMT legislators, Ma noted that Premier Wu Den-yih will designate a minister without portfolio to push the inking of ECFA. Ma expressed the hole to have the agreement inked by year end, admitting, though, he isn't sure of its feasibility.

Ma also revealed in the meeting that direct flights between Taiwan's Songshan Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, Tokyo Haneda Airport, and Seoul-gimpo Airport will be inaugurated by October next year, in accordance with his earlier proposal of the "golden quadrangle of Northeast Asia" concept, which will contribute to the region's economic development.

Economics minister Shih Yen-shiang stressed the critical importance of ECFA yesterday, saying that the economic think tanks of both sides are already engaged in unofficial discussion over the issue. He confessed, however, it appears to be impossible for the official talk on the issue to begin in the first half of October. He revealed that the MOEA has formulated a list of commodities and service businesses for priority tariff cuts by both sides, under the arrangement of "early harvest."

A ranking government official pointed out that Premier Wu has listed ECFA as a priority item on his agenda but it's unwise to set a timetable for the signing of agreement, which is tantamount to the revelation of Taiwan's bottom line in the talk.