TAIPEI: Minister of Economic Affairs Shen Jong-chin told lawmakers Wednesday that he will respect Taiwanese businesses’ decisions to invest in China, in light of a new pledge from the Chinese president to further open its markets.
Speaking at the Boao Forum for Asia Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping outlined four strategies that China will adopt to open its markets.
The strategies are loosening restrictions on foreign business ownership; creating a better environment for foreign investment; strengthening intellectual property protection; and increasing imports.
These strategies, coupled with the 31 incentives China recently announced to attract Taiwanese businesses and professionals to the mainland, have got lawmakers wondering what this means for the future of trade relations across the Taiwan Strait.
In response, Shen told legislators during an interpellation session that he respects local industries’ development plans, and is sure that businesses understand the importance of diversifying their investments in order to avoid a major blow in case of that any one region or country undergoes change.