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As Andy Chen recently wrote, “Taiwan has expressed its wish to be included in the second round of talks for membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and “there are sound reasons for Canadians to back Taiwan’s accession.” Today, Taiwan, with a population of 23 million people, has become a growing economic partner for Canada and is our 13th largest trading, and 5th largest Asian trading partner. The extent of trade between the two countries is something many Canadians are unaware of. There are, for example, more Roots Canada retail stores in Taiwan than in all of Canada. Further, Taiwan’s agricultural imports in 2018, accounted for 21.6% of Canada-Taiwan trade and included such products as soybeans, grains, beef, pork, poultry, seafood, potatoes and coniferous wood products. While focusing on the state of Canada-Taiwan relations, our speaker, Andy Chen, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Vancouver will also discuss events in Hong Kong, US-China and Taiwan-China relations. His talk promises a very unique, seldom heard perspective of contemporary challenges facing the entire Asia-Pacific region.

Speaker’s Biography
Mr. Chen has had a wide-ranging diplomatic career with numerous director and deputy consul positions within the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international postings in Jordan, New York, the Philippines, and Brunei. In 2018, he was appointed as the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Culture Office in Vancouver. He also holds a BA in Arabic Language and Culture from Chengchi University.