Taipei, May 7 (CNA) The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) announced Thursday that Kin Moy will succeed Christopher Marut as the new director of its Taipei office, beginning summer 2015.
Moy's most recent assignment was deputy assistant secretary of state in the U.S. State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, responsible for U.S. relations with China, Mongolia, and Taiwan.
Moy, a Mandarin speaker, has been in the U.S. Foreign Service for over 20 years, and has extensive experience on the Asia-Pacific region, said the AIT, which represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.
He will take up the new post after Marut finishes his three-year term as AIT director.
Taiwan welcomed the new assignment, said Foreign Minister David Lin (林永樂), who believed that "the Taiwan-U.S. ties will continue to grow" after Moy assumes duties as AIT director.
Lin also praised Marut's efforts in advancing Taipei-Washington ties over the past three years.
During that time, Lin said, Taiwan and the United States resumed major trade talks under their bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, made progress in their economic ties, and conducted several cooperative projects in international humanitarian assistance.
Prior to the assignment as deputy assistant secretary of state, Moy had served as deputy executive secretary in the Office of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, director of the executive secretariat staff in the Office of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, deputy director of the Office of Maritime Southeast Asia and others, the AIT said.
Moy's previous posts also include stints in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and the U.S. Consulate in Busan, according to the AIT.
A career diplomat, Moy will be the first AIT director of Chinese descent since the Washington-based institution was established in 1979, after the United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
(By Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/jc
Update:
●Moy's appointment as AIT Taipei director well received in Taiwan
●Taiwan welcomes U.S. assignment of new AIT director