Below is an article published by Taiwan Today:

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou expressed the hope June 8 that growth in trade between Taiwan and India could increase at an even faster pace in the coming years.

“Enhancing interactions with emerging economies is extremely important to Taiwan’s future economic development,” Ma said while meeting at the Presidential Office with Dr. Sanjaya Baru, chief editor of the Indian English-language daily Business Standard.

He noted that Taiwan-India bilateral trade reached US$6.4 billion for 2010, a significant increase over previous years.

“Following the signing of the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement last year, India has expressed an interest in signing a free trade agreement with Taiwan,” Ma pointed out.

Think tanks in Taiwan are in the process of conducting feasibility studies on launching talks toward inking such an accord, he added.

Over the past year, Ma continued, several important Indian officials have visited Taiwan, including members of Parliament, Ministry of External Affairs officials, think tank academics and information technology officials.

Meanwhile, a number of top Taiwan government officials have led delegations to India since the start of this year, including Council for Economic Planning and Development Minister Christina Y. Liu, Minister of Education Wu Ching-ji and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Shen Lyu-shun.

“These exchanges illustrate that bilateral economic, cultural and education relations have continued to develop in a positive direction,” the president stated.

Ma said that during his visit to India in June 2007, he was deeply impressed by the country’s economy, information technology, consumer strength and role on the global economic stage.

Pointing to India’s recent acquisition of a seat on the U.N. Security Council as a nonpermanent member, Ma said he believes the South Asian giant’s position as a leader on the international stage will continue to grow in the future.