SOONG: TAIWAN WILLING TO JOIN REGIONAL ECONOMIC INTEGRATION|出席APEC 宋:傳達台灣願加入經貿整合

The 2016 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will be held in Peru next week. The PFP chairman James Soong has been appointed the envoy to represent Taiwan in this event, and his meeting with the Chinese President Xi Jinping has been the center of attention. Soong said his mission during the APEC meetings is to express Taiwan's strong willingness to join regional economic integration. As for cross-strait issues, he emphasized that he has not been authorized to conduct any negotiations in this regard, but he will seize the opportunity to talk with Xi Jinping. Taiwan's APEC delegation, led by PFP chair James Soong, met with President Tsai Ing-wen on Nov 11. Although China attempted to suppress Taiwan's participation, eventually Taiwan was able to attend the forum. President Tsai said she hopes Soong can accomplish three missions at the APEC. ==TSAI ING-WEN, ROC President== First, we need to talk to other countries extensively to bring new opportunities for Taiwan's economic development. Participation in the APEC is a way for Taiwan to promote regional economic integration and its "New Southbound Policy" so that we can develop domestic industries. It is the first time for Soong to serve as the envoy to the APEC. The delegation includes former Interior Minister Lee Hong-yuan and former Minister of Economic Affairs John Deng, and Soong's daughter, Soong Cheng-mai, who some said may play an interesting role and contribute positively to cross-strait relations. However, Soong said his focus will solely be on economic issues. ==JAMES SOONG, PFP Chair== I do not have the mandate of the president to conduct negotiations regarding major political issues. My job is to attend the APEC economic and trade meetings. Soong said that he will also be speaking to other leaders to learn their opinions on the US presidential election. ==JAMES SOONG, PFP Chair== The US and other countries may have some new opinions. We will gather some first-hand information while we are there. Soong reiterated that the APEC's spirit is liberalization. Thus, the delegation will not limit its function to the negotiations for TPP or RCEP. They will also seek to enhance communication with the ASEAN countries, find opportunities for the "New Southbound Policy", and pave ways for joining other regional trade organizations. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 2016亞太經合會（APEC），下週正式登場，這次領袖會議，將由親民黨主席宋楚瑜代表出席，宋習會再度成為各界關注焦點！宋楚瑜今天表示，這次主要任務是向世界各國表達，台灣加入區域經貿整合的高度意願，至於兩岸議題，他重申總統蔡英文沒授權，不會有任何形式的談判，但強調一定有機會與中國國家主席習近平會面交流。 APEC代表團一行人,一大早,在親民黨主席宋楚瑜帶領下,前往總統府,晉見總統蔡英文,其實在出發前,曾傳出中國大陸打壓,難以成行,雖然還是順利出訪,不過在前往APEC主辦國祕魯前,總統蔡英文,特別交辦三項任務,希望宋楚瑜此行能夠完成. ==總統 蔡英文== 首先是要透過到 國際的廣泛的交流 為台灣經濟發展帶回新的機會 而參與APEC就是政府 推動參加區域經貿整合 跟新南向政策 以帶動國內產業發展的方式之一 首度擔任APEC特使宋楚瑜,這次出訪並不孤單,有不少幕僚隨側,包括前內政部長李鴻源,以及前經濟部長鄧振中等,最特別的是宋楚瑜小女兒,宋鎮邁也是這是代表團成員,外界認為她是巧妙安排,或許在兩岸互動上,她將扮演奇兵，不過，宋楚瑜回應此行任務單純,只談經濟不談兩岸政治. ==親民黨主席 宋楚瑜== 我沒有經過任何的總統的授權 就兩岸的 重大的 所謂的政治議題 去做任何的談判 我的任務就是去 參加APEC的經貿會議 宋楚瑜表示，由於這次美國大選結果跌破各界眼鏡,各國政治領袖的看法,意見收集也是此行目的. ==親民黨主席 宋楚瑜== 美國和其他的國家 是不是有一些新的看法 我們應該到那邊 去蒐集和了解第一手的資訊 宋楚瑜再三強調,APEC的精神就是推動自由化,因此並不會侷限只談TPP或RCEP,與東協各國交流,也是重點,除了為新南向政策找出路,也要為加入其他區域經貿組織來鋪路. 記者 黃立偉 張國樑 謝其文 台北報導