I am delighted to be in Taipei as Executive Director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei (CTOT). This is my third posting in the Asia Pacific region, an area which has been one of longstanding interest to me, both personally and professionally. My preparation for this assignment has already filled me with excitement over both the achievement and potential of our partnerships with Taiwanese people, companies, places of learning, and organizations of many kinds.

It is clear that Taiwan plays host to one of the largest and most dynamic Canadian communities in the world, a community making a real impact on life in Taiwan and on Canada's relationship with Taiwan. Indeed, from the earliest days of Dr. MacKay's contributions to health care for Taiwanese to present day involvement in education, culture and science and technology, Canadians have made a meaningful and, in many ways, remarkable contribution to the development of Taiwanese society.

Today, and despite the challenges and the competition, Canada is a visible presence in Taiwan - from the damper on Taipei 101 to the new arena and hockey league in Taipei to the recently concluded Canadian focus of the Taipei Film Festival. At same time as Canadians contribute to Taiwan, many Taiwanese immigrants, visitors and students are contributing significantly to Canada's growth and helping to create new bridges between Canada and Taiwan.

We have a substantial and growing economic partnership. Taiwan is already Canada's 4th largest trading partner in Asia. It is a relationship that has become much more complex and mature in recent years. Both economies are deeply connected by emerging business models and by the global and regional value chains around which international commerce is increasingly organized. In addition to trade in goods, we are seeing new potential for growth in the financial, services and knowledge sectors. On the latter, Canada and Taiwan enjoy especially strong collaboration in science and technology, including biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Moreover, Canada's recently-announced "Pacific Gateway" initiative, and the extensive investments associated with it, is designed to facilitate trade, investment, shipping and travel between Asia Pacific and North America. Taiwan, I am confident, can and will be an important part of this story.

This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei. We are celebrating dynamic people to people ties as well as growing economic, science and technology, investment, cultural and health linkages. I look forward to meeting many of those who play a key role in promoting linkages between Canada and Taiwan, during my time here and doing my part to ensure that these linkages continue to grow and prosper.