The Economic Rise of Asia and the Future of EU-Taiwan Relations

Relationships across the Taiwan straits have considerably improved in the last two years. Both sides have started opening their economies to each other and increased people-to-people, transport and communications links. China and Taiwan are currently negotiating a framework agreement to deepen trade and investment relations. This has spurred interest from international investors who see Taiwan as a potential bridge to the Mainland in a time of rising economic nationalism there. But the long-term sensitive political questions around Taiwan’s status have not been resolved and continue to loom in the background. The EU itself has no role in the cross-Straits issue. It has prioritized its relationships with the mainland, and kept to its strict One China policy. But with the rapprochement, is it not time for the EU to think on how to expand trade and cross-border business as a way to deepen links with Taiwan and root the current rapprochement more firmly?

You are cordially invited to a seminar on EU-Taiwan relations at a time of generally increased trade and economic integration between the EU and Asia.

Please RSVP to info@ecipe.org before November 22. 

Programme

Registration/refreshments 16:30-17:00

SESSION I: KEYNOTE SPEECHES 17:00-17:30

S.E.M. Michel Ching-Long Lu, Représentant, Bureau de représentation de Taiwan en France
M. Philippe Gassman, Chef de bureau Asie et Océanie, Direction du Trésor

SESSION II: NEXT STEPS FOR EU-TAIWAN RELATIONS? 17:30-18:10

Dr. Fukunari Kimura, Professor at Keio University
Dr. Razeen Sally, Director of ECIPE and Professor at the London School of Economics
M. Jean-Francois Di Meglio, Asia Centre 

SESSION III: DISCUSSION 18:10-19:00

Moderator: Professor Patrick Messerlin, Director, Groupe d’Économie Mondiale