Washington, Jan. 24 (CNA) The United States will soon announce the date for resuming talks with Taiwan under the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond Burghardt said Thursday.

In addition, the two sides have made progress in their efforts to revise their diplomatic immunity agreement, with an outcome expected very soon, Burghardt said during a New Year event held by the AIT in the U.S. capital.

He also said he believes the U.S. government will continue to send high-level officials to Taiwan this year, as has been the case over the past two years.

U.S. officials who visited Taiwan in 2012 include Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs Jose W. Fernandez, he noted.

Also at the event, Taiwan's representative to the United States, King Pu-tsung, told reporters that Washington has been maintaining close interaction with Taiwan and has a good understanding of a protest voyage launched by Taiwanese activists to the disputed Japan-controlled Diaoyutai Islands Thursday.

This most recent incident, King said, shows that the government has done its best to minimize conflict with Japan. (Tony Liao and Y.F. Low)

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