Taipei, March 11 (CNA) The relationship between Canada and Taiwan has grown in leaps and bounds, the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei has discovered as it celebrates its 20th anniversary and looks back on two decades of history in Taiwan.
Established in December 1986 as a three-member office to represent Canada in Taiwan, the CTOT now has almost 70 staff and delivers a wide range of commercial, immigration and consular services.
"Twenty years of cooperation has made people-to-people and economic ties between both Canada and Taiwan increasingly valuable for both sides," said Gordon Houlden, CTOT's Executive Director.
"The flow of people between Canada and Taiwan is a central aspect of our relationship. Over 80,000 visitor visas are issued every year for travel to Canada. This makes our Taipei office Canada's busiest visitor visa issuance center in the world. At the same time, Taiwanese immigrants continue to contribute to Canada's prosperity and enrich Canada's multicultural identity."
Houlden estimated there are now over 20,000 Canadians living in Taiwan, with each of them bringing a piece of Canada to the island, he said. And Taiwan will be spotlighted in Canada's Asian Heritage Month in May.
The trade relationship between both sides has also blossomed during the last 20 years.
"Trade now totals almost C$5 billion (US$4.3 billion) annually, and Taiwan is Canada's fourth most important trade partner in the Asian-Pacific," Houlden said.
Canadian multinationals and hundreds of smaller companies have enjoyed considerable success in Taiwan. Also, both sides are boosting their technology exchanges, Houlden added. The National Research Council of Canada is currently developing its largest bilateral R&D relationship outside of North America with Taiwan's National Science Council.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, the CTOT will host various events throughout the year, including the 2006 Canada-Taiwan Evening of Music, an aboriginal exhibition at the National Museum of History starting March 24 and a Canada Cultural Month in July.