Auckland, New Zealand, March 14 (CNA) Taiwan is hopeful that it can forge closer bilateral ties with New Zealand, especially on the economic and tourism fronts, Taiwan's representative to New Zealand said Monday.
New Zealand is in favor of the free trade system, which is seen as beneficial to an export-driven economy such as Taiwan, which is why Taiwan wants to establish closer economic relations with the South Pacific country, said Elliot Y.L. Charng, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in New Zealand.
"We support anything that is beneficial to bilateral economic cooperation, including the possibility of exploring an economic partnership agreement (EPA), " Charng told CNA on the sidelines of a visit to New Zealand by first lady Chow Mei-ching.
A former deputy chief representative of the Ministry of Economic Affairs' Office of Trade Negotiations, Charng said establishing closer economic ties is at the top of his agenda.
However, the potential for tourism should not be overlooked, he went on, given that the number of Taiwan tourists visiting New Zealand has increased by 40 percent since the country granted Taiwanese passport holders visa-free privileges last year.
Charng said his office is also planning to expand a popular working holiday program under which up to 600 young people can sign up for the program every year, allowing them to spend a year on vacation in New Zealand and to take casual work to finance themselves.
Charng said most Taiwanese businessmen, immigrants and students living in New Zealand, especially those in Christchurch, have settled down and tried to get their lives back to normal in the aftermath of a devastating magnitude 6.3 earthquake that struck the South Island city Feb. 22.
Lee Hsin-hong remained the only Taiwanese national listed as missing to date, and the TECO has been in close touch with local police for the latest information about quake victims, he said.
Some Taiwanese students in Christchurch have returned to Taiwan, while others have opted to transfer to schools in Auckland or Australia to continue their studies, he said, adding that most Taiwanese-owned local businesses were not seriously affected by the earthquake.
The diplomat said cultural exchanges are also important and that the first lady's visit, during which she is scheduled to visit local schools and attend performances by the Taiwanese dance troupe U Theatre at the Auckland Arts Festival this week, is a perfect example that more interaction will be helpful in each side gaining a deeper understanding of the other's culture. (By Chris Wang) ENDITEM/J