TSAI URGES CHINA TO HELP TAIWANESE BUSINESSES THERE WITH OPERATION PROBLEMS|蔡籲中國排除干擾 解決台商經營問題

This year's annual Lunar New Year gathering for Taiwanese businesspeople in China has seen a lower turnout than previous years. Kuo Shan-hui, a former president of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland, says that the lower turnout reflects anxiety about cross-Strait relations in the future and pessimism about the coming year. President Tsai Ing-wen has called on China to minimize political interference and make a sincere effort to solve the problems and challenges faced by Taiwanese businesses in China. President Tsai Ing-wen made an appearance at the Straits Exchange Foundation's Lunar New Year gathering for Taiwanese businesspeople in China, delivering a personal new year's greeting. But few businesspeople returned for the gathering. Notably absent was Wang Ping-sheng, president of the Taiwanese businesspeople's association. ==KUO SHAN-HUI Former President, Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland== The number of Taiwanese businesspeople returning for the gathering this year is lower than previous years. The main reason is because people are anxious about how cross-Strait ties will proceed in the future. There are great challenges ahead of us. ==LIAO WAN-LUNG President, Zhangzhou City Taiwanese Business Association== If there are no good policies for us, then what's the use of attending this dinner? There's no point in coming. Taiwanese businesspeople in China are frustrated with the Tsai government's noncommittal stance on cross-Strait relations. Domestic businesses are also hoping for a new Cross-Strait policy later this year. ==LIN PO-FENG National Association of Industry and Commerce Chair== It's hard to see things improving this year. We just hope there are no further steps back. In the face of these concerns, President Tsai is calling on China to make a sincere effort to solve the difficulties faced by Taiwanese businesses there. ==TSAI ING-WEN R.O.C. President== We would also like to call on the authorities in Beijing to take seriously the problems and difficulties faced by Taiwanese businesses. Political interference should be eliminated as the two sides cooperate to protect the legal rights of Taiwanese businesspeople. This will be a good model for positive interaction across the Strait. Regarding Cross-Strait ties, Tsai says that she will work harder to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiations with China. She also promised to help Taiwanese businesses with upgrades and transition, and to encourage them to invest back home. TRANSLATED BY：JOHN CHEN 海基會舉辦台商春節聯誼，總統蔡英文親自出席要和台商拜年搏感情，但這次從對岸返回的台商並不多，連指標性的台企聯總會長王屏生都缺席。 ==前台企聯會長 郭山輝== 像這次台商回來的 人數跟數量啊 跟以往比有稍微減少了一點 那麼主要的原因是大家 心中還是充滿了一些疑慮 到底以後兩岸關係 應該繼續如何往前推進 那麼面前的挑戰 看起來是比較巨大的 ==漳州市台商會長 廖萬隆== 如果沒有好的政策給台商 我來有什麼用 來為了吃這餐嗎 也沒有(用) 無感 不滿蔡政府上任以來，兩岸事務態度曖昧不明，忍不住開砲，而國內企業也不看好今年的兩岸關係，期盼下半年能提出兩岸新政策。 ==工商協進會理事長 林伯豐== (今年)是不會比較好 我們是希望不要退步了 面對台商的擔憂，蔡英文向對岸喊話，正視解決台商經營上的各種問題及困難。 ==總統 蔡英文== 我們也呼籲北京當局 要正視台商經營上的 各種問題及困難 並且排除政治干擾 共同保障台商的合法權益 為兩岸的善意互動 做出積極正面的示範 對於兩岸關係，蔡英文強調會好好加油，將抱持最大善意，和對岸對話和磋商，也承諾協助台商轉型升級，並鼓勵台商回台投資。 記者 林欣儀 彭耀祖 陳保羅 台北報導