Van Kesteren Meets With the President of Taiwan

July 20, 2006

Taiwan - Dave Van Kesteren, Member of Parliament for Chatham-Kent-Essex, met yesterday with the President of Taiwan, Chen Shui-bian. Van Kesteren is part of a parliamentary delegation of nine MPs that has spent the week in Taiwan meeting with government officials.

“Taiwan has developed into a stable lively democracy and regional economic powerhouse which now boasts one of the highest living standards in Asia-Pacific,” said Van Kesteren. “I think that Taiwan and Canada have many shared values and interests which the delegation has seen first-hand”.

Among the issues that were discussed with President Chen included Taiwan’s addition on to Canada’s General Preferential Tariff list, the Government of Canada granting Taiwan tourists visa-free privileges, and Taiwan’s current ban on the import of Canadian beef. The Canadian delegation expressed their desire to see that ban lifted.

President Chen also thanked the Canadian parliament for having passed six resolutions in three consecutive years in support of Taiwan's bid to participate in the World Health Assembly. He also thanked the Parliamentarians for their concerns over China's passage of the Anti-Separation Law and the disputes in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan’s relationship with China continues to dominate political discourse, making relations across the Taiwan Strait one of the most volatile security issues in the region.

“Canada must continue supporting Taiwan’s right for greater autonomy and ensure that they are treated fairly on the international stage,” said Van Kesteren.

For more information, please contact: Office of Dave Van Kesteren, M.P. - (613) 992-2612