[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       WELCOMING THE NEW REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 7, 1994

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to extend a very warm welcome to 
Benjamin Lu in his new role as representative of the Taipei Economic 
and Cultural Representative Office; the unofficial Embassy of the 
Republic of China on Taiwan. Having served as the director of the 
economic division of the Coordination Council for North America Affairs 
[CCNAA] from 1982-88, he is, however, not new to Washington, DC. During 
his prior assignment here, Mr. Lu was instrumental in forging 
agreements on intellectual property rights and of great import in 
promoting excellent trade relations between our two nations. It is of 
some significance that during Mr. Lu's time as economic director, 
Taiwan was the only Asian country to reduce its trade deficit. I 
anticipate, with Representative Lu, continuing the good relations our 
country shares with the Republic of China on Taiwan [ROC].
  Representative Lu is replacing Ambassador Mou Shih Ding, Taiwan's 
representative since 1988. In every aspect, Ambassador Ding led the ROC 
toward an ever-improving relationship with the United States. Indeed, 
during his tenure Taiwan became the world's largest holder of foreign 
reserves and America's fifth largest trading partner. Moreover, his 
country's prompt and unconditional support for the relief effort in the 
former Yugoslavia was a model for all aid efforts. Furthermore, as his 
more than 30 years of public service.
  Representative Lu's new title comes with a change in office name as 
well. As part of the administration's recent ROC policy review and to 
better reflect the growing economic relationship between our two 
countries, the U.S. office has been renamed the Taipei Economic and 
Cultural Representative Office. Moreover, of equal significance are the 
provisions made by the administration for high level talks on trade 
issues to be held in the near future. In this vein, I hope that during 
his tenure Taiwan will at long last be afforded representation in 
international bodies, and in particular the United Nations. Taiwan's 21 
million citizens deserve, require, and demand a voice in the world 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, the Republic of China will be celebrating its national 
independence day on October 10. In 1994, I anticipate this holiday will 
mark even better United States-ROC relations. I am sure my colleagues 
join me in welcoming Representative Lu and expressing our desire to 
make his time in Washington the most productive yet in the history of 
our two countries.

                          ____________________