TAIWAN APEC DELEGATION MEETS WITH US SECRETARY OF STATE|我國APEC代表宋楚瑜 與美國務卿會談

The 2016 APEC Ministerial Meeting kicked off on Nov 18. Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-Kung and Minister of the National Development Council Chen Tian-ji attended the meeting, and interactions between ministers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait began cordially with a handshake. Taiwan delegation leader James Soong confirmed that he had met with US State Secretary John Kerry and exchanged their views on the topics of the APEC meeting for about 30 minutes. It was the first high-level official meeting between Taiwan and the US since President Tsai Ing-wen took office. The APEC Ministerial Meeting kicked off with a group photo of 21 ministers of APEC members. ==HUANG LI-WEI, Public Television Service reporter== The 2016 APEC Ministerial Meeting opened on Nov 18. Because of tight security measures, only two national media from each country are allowed to enter the venue. Minister of Economic Affairs Lee Chih-Kung and National Development Council Chairman Chen Tian-ji will represent Taiwan at the meeting. At the photo shoot before the meeting, Taiwan delegates stood in the last row on the left, while Chinese Deputy Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen stood in the front. He offered to shake hands with Taiwan delegates out of courtesy, marking a positive start for the interaction of both sides. However, Taiwan business representatives worry that Taiwan's economic development will be hindered by multiple challenges besides cross-strait politics. In particular, many uncertainties may affect the development of free trade and regional economic integration. ==JAN HUNG-TZE, APEC Industry Advisory Committee member== Trump's win and Brexit have cast a shadow on globalization and free trade. It seems free trade has suffered a bit of a setback. At noon on Nov 17th local time, leader of Taiwan's APEC delegation, James Soong, met with US State Secretary John Kerry and exchanged views on the topics of the APEC meeting. The meeting was scheduled in advance and lasted nearly half an hour. With President Tsai Ing-wen's mandate, Soong conveyed Taiwan's position and its role in the international community. ==JAMES SOONG, APEC Envoy== We had plans regarding the RCEP, TPP, and the Asia-Pacific free trade development. However, we still don't know how things will evolve in the United States after the election. Soong said that he discussed the future development of regional integration with Kerry but did not disclose the details of their talk, stressing that Trump will take office next January, and many uncertainties remain within the current US political and economic situation. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU APEC年度部長會議登場，經濟部長李世光，與國發會主委陳添枝連袂出席，而這次中國大陸則派出中國商務部副部長王受文與會,不過,兩岸部長互動上,有了好的開始。而我方領袖代表宋楚瑜，證實已經和美國國務卿凱瑞見面，就APEC會議主題交換意見，會談近半小時。是總統蔡英文上任後，我方在國際場合，首次與美國高層正式會談。 APEC 21個會員國部長,會前大合照,為首日年度部長會議揭開序幕。 ==公視記者 黃立偉== APEC年度部長會議 在今天登場 由於這個維安是非常嚴格 每個國家媒體要入內採訪呢 規定只能兩家 而台灣出席與會的 由經濟部長李世光 以及國發會主委陳添枝代表出席 會前大合照,位置安排很巧妙,我方代表，就在最後一排的左後方,而中國大陸代表,推派商務部副長王受文,則站在第二排左前方,兩岸官員一前一後,雖然有點距離,但並非零互動,對岸財經官員,主動與我方代表禮貌性握手，雖然沒有寒暄,但會前有了良性互動.不過，台灣企業代表憂心,台灣經濟發展阻礙,除了兩岸政治因素以外,面臨的挑戰不少，尤其未來在推自由貿易與區域經濟整合,有許多不確定因素干擾. ==APEC企業諮詢委員會代表 詹宏志== 川普的當選 包括這個英國的脫歐 全球化跟自由貿易的不滿足 這個陰影也是很明顯的 好像自由貿易 受到了一點點這種挫敗的感覺 而當地時間，17號中午，我APEC經濟領袖代表宋楚瑜，與美國國務卿凱瑞會晤，就APEC會議主題，雙方充分交換意見，會談花了將近半小時。而這場預先安排好的台美會議，宋楚瑜傳達我方國家立場與扮演角色，談話內容都預先經過蔡英文總統核定。 ==APEC領袖代表 宋楚瑜== 不管是RCEP也好 或者是TPP也好 或者是亞太 整體的自由貿易發展的 這一些安排 都原來有一些構想 但是很顯然 美國大選之後 美國未來的這個動向 到目前為止 還沒有做一個比較明確的表態 宋楚瑜強調，與凱瑞會面，多討論未來區域整合發展，不過細部內容沒透露，強調川普明年一月才上任，目前美國政經情勢發展也不明朗，未來還有變數。 記者 黃立偉 張國樑 秘魯報導