President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday Taiwan and the Untied States can jointly explore the Chinese market after the island signed a major trade pact with Beijing last year.

Taipei and Beijing concluded the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, or ECFA, in mid-2010 in a bid to boost the flow of goods and personnel across the strait and spur growth.

"The US and we can use business opportunities created after the signing of ECFA ... this will be a good chance to develop the mainland market together," he told the visiting US assistant secretary of commerce Suresh Kumar.

ECFA has helped boost Taiwan's competitiveness and contributed to the island's investment environment, Ma said.

Kumar became the highest-level US official to visit Taiwan since deputy trade representative Karan Bhatia in May 2006, according to US officials.

Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 but has remained a key ally and a leading arms supplier to the island.

The triangular relationship between China, the United States and Taiwan was strained under the island's former president Chen Shui-bian, who often irked Washington and Beijing with policies pushing for formal independence.

Ties have improved markedly after Ma took power in 2008 on a platform of promoting trade and reconciliation with former arch-rival China.

However, Beijing still considers Taiwan part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary, despite their split in 1949 after a civil war.

Related Links
Global Trade News

Tweet