On the occasion of his visit to the Alpes-Maritimes, the Taiwanese ambassador, Mr. Ching-long LU, held a conference in front of EDHEC students to praise the economic attractiveness of his country compared to its neighbor, the People’s Republic of China.
This Thursday evening, EDHEC students were treated to a special lecture. The Taiwanese Ambassador, Mr. Ching-long LU, took advantage of his visit to the Riviera capital to hold a conference at the business school. With his good mood and jokes, the Representative of the Republic of Taipei clearly states his objective: to convince future businessmen to trade and invest on the island and not in the People’s Republic of China.
Taiwan, an attractive destination for businesses
“Think of the Taiwanese market instead of the Chinese market,” Mr. Ching-long LU says in front of about twenty students, half of whom are Asian. Presenting tablets, mobile phones, and flyers, products by Assus, the national high-tech company, he embarks on an expose of the competitive advantages of the world’s 24th economy. The country has the necessary structures for the establishment of foreign companies and is technologically advanced, he explains, before adding that the education rate is comparable to that of France. On the list of comparative advantages, Mr. Ching-long LU cites democracy: “Taiwan is 100% open. Our entire system is Americanized with the principle of competition and free enterprise. In the PRC, or in Hong Kong, you have to wait for Beijing’s approval.” He goes on to give examples of companies successfully established on the island, such as the AXA group, the jeweler Cartier, and Hewlett-Packard.
To attract investors, Taiwan has embarked on a major cultural promotion campaign, extolling the island’s hospitality traditions, food, and ancient Chinese customs. It will indeed be the country of honor at the 39th Angoulême International Comics Festival.
A special relationship with the PRC
Regarding relations with its neighbor, the People’s Republic of China (which considers Taiwan as its 32nd province), Mr. Ching-long LU insists, “Taiwan must be recognized by Beijing.” He explains that these are “special relationships. Unique in the world, more than at the time of the two Germanys or between the two Koreas. At each negotiation, there is no agreement signed at the end.” The ambassador, however, tempers this by stating that “relations are on the right track.”
