Gov't resolute on ECFA

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- President Ma Ying-jeou expressed yesterday the government's determined effort to push forward an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China for a better future for Taiwan.

When meeting with a group of outstanding managers, Ma said it will be detrimental to Taiwan's future without the proposed trade pact across the Taiwan Strait.

His statements came after his Kuomintang's (KMT) setback in the just-concluded weekend local elections, which some had interpreted as the result of public discontent with the performance of the Ma administration, and notably among them, concerns over his proposed trade pact with

Ma made it clear that the ECFA issue will not be discussed in the upcoming cross-strait meeting later this month, although the two sides will exchange views on the trade pact after the meeting.

He pointed out that the fourth and latest round of meetings between P.K. Chiang, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), and Chen Yunlin, president of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), will mainly focus on four technical issues. The four issues cover fishery cooperation, avoidance of double taxation, examination and certification of standards and the inspection and quarantine of agricultural products for public health


MOU: Memorandum of Understanding

Article Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2009/12/08/235588/Govt-resolute.htm





China.

China envoy in Taiwan for historical talks, urges peace

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Beijing's top negotiator with Taipei and highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan since 1949, Chen Yunlin, arrived Monday aboard a cross-Taiwan Strait charter flight for a five-day visit during which he will hold a second round of talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Pin-kung, and meet with Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.


Chen, head of China's semi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), arrived at Taoyuan International Airport on 11.45 a.m. along with a delegation of 60 businesspeople. They were greeted by Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) officials led by vice chairman Kao Koong-lian and then taken directly to Taipei's Grand Hotel under full police escort.

Article Source: http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2008/11/03/181588/China%2Denvoy.htm

Exam Yuan revising English test for civil servants

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Members of the Examination Yuan promised to consider President Ma Ying-jeou's suggestion of increasing the portion of English-language test when recruiting public servants in the future.

The president made the proposal at a luncheon he hosted for new members of the Examination Yuan at the Taipei Guesthouse yesterday.

In addition to encouraging the members to carry out bold reforms to upgrade the ethics standards of the government employees, Ma said it is equally important to strengthen the capability and competitiveness of the public servants.

Ma noted that he already took actions to improve the general standards and the capability of commanding English, the most popular international language, when he served as mayor of Taipei.

Some members of the Examination Yuan said there are currently English test included into certain test subjects for candidates aspiring to work for government agencies.

The issue concerning whether to further increase the portion of the English test and make it a mandatory test for all candidates requires further study.

Passing the qualifications tests to join government agencies has long been the toughest examination of all tests in Taiwan.

Tens of thousands of people take the exams held every year by the Examination Yuan in order to get what they conceive as the most ideal careers because they will face almost no risk of being laid off and are guaranteed for life-long pension after retirement.

Ma also mentioned that there should be separate criteria for evaluating the professors at higher learning institutions and the general public servants.

The president said many of the top-notch professors in Taiwan were hired away by institutions in China, Hong Kong, and other areas in recent years.

He suggested that the Examination Yuan work out new measures to cope with the issue to keep the talent.

The members said they plan to discuss the various issues brought up by Ma when holding their first plenary meeting today.

They will also solicit the opinions from the government employees and people in other sectors before adopting concrete steps.

There are still a large number of job seekers in Taiwan finding it frightening and extremely difficult for them to cope with job interviews in English, although they have earned bachelor's or master's degrees from universities.

International English proficiency evaluation organizations placed Taiwan among the bottom four on a list detailing Asian countries and their English proficiency among workers in 2006.

In 2007, Taiwan slipped further to the bottom three, ranking only higher than Japan and Saudi Arabia, in the Asian region.


Article Source: Exam Yuan revising English test for civil servants