Photo courtesy of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei

Taipei, Oct. 6 (CNA) Canada's new representative to Taiwan has arrived in Taiwan to assume his duties, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday, expressing hope that it can work with him to advance ties between the two countries.

Mario Ste-Marie took up his post in Taiwan Oct. 2, said Christine Hsueh (薛美瑜), director-general of the ministry's Department of North American Affairs, at a regular news briefing.

"Ste-Marie has broad experience in handling Canada's foreign relations and is familiar with Asia-Pacific affairs," she said.

Prior to his Taiwan post, Ste-Marie was posted in New Delhi 2009-2011, responsible for trade affairs. From 2011-2015, he served as consul-general of Canada in Australia, according to information provided by the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, which represents Canada's interests in Taiwan in the absence of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Since he went into public service in 1982, he has worked in several different government agencies and has experience in dealing with agricultural, health, cultural, investment and international trade issues, the office said.

At Tuesday's news conference, Hsueh said that the ministry hopes to work with Ste-Marie to advance ties based on the solid relations between the two countries.

Taiwan-Canada ties have continued to grow steadily in recent years, she said, citing bilateral agreements on a working holiday program and air transportation as examples.

The two sides have also made progress on a variety of trade issues, including Taiwan's opening in 2014 of imports of Canadian bone-in beef, she said.

"We hope to continue to push for an agreement aimed at avoiding double taxation after Canada's federal elections," she added.

Those elections are slated for Oct. 19, when Canadians will choose members of their House of Commons.

(By Elaine Hou)
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