Taiwan: Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union
- On: 07.11.2008
1. The European Union welcomes the continued efforts by both sides to improve relations across the Taiwan Strait, which contribute significantly to stability and security in East Asia.
2. The EU commends in this respect the holding of the second round of unofficial negotiations between the two sides, on the occasion of the visit to Taiwan of the Chairman of ARATS, Mr CHEN Yunlin, and his talks with the Chairman of SEF, Mr CHIANG Pin-kung. It welcomes the success of these talks, which enabled a number of specific agreements to be signed in the areas of transport, postal links and food security, further high-level contacts to be established and a timetable for future discussions to be fixed.
3. The European Union welcomes in particular the fact that these talks contribute to developing the mutual confidence and understanding between the two sides which are essential for better cooperation in the Taiwan Strait.
4. The EU hopes that this process of dialogue will continue over the coming months and years, in accordance with the timetable set by the two sides.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Armenia align themselves with this declaration.
* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.
- Updated: 13.11.2008
