Taiwan

Taiwan's inflation eases to 4.78 per cent in August

Taipei - Taiwan's inflation rate dropped to 4.78 per cent in August thanks to a drop in fuel prices, the government's statistics agency said Friday.

Taiwan vice president heads to Swaziland to cement ties

Taiwan, TaipeiTaipei- Taiwan Vice President Vincent Siew Thursday led a delegation to the island's African ally Swaziland for a four-day visit to cement ties, in the face of China's growing influence in that part of world.

"I will do all I can to promote and consolidate bilateral ties between our two countries," said Siew at Taiwan's international airport before departure late in the evening.

Siew was appointed by Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Nationalist Party or Kuomintang (KMT) as his special envoy to take part in the African nation's 40th anniversary celebrations and the 40th birthday of King Mswati III.

Taiwan stocks fall nearly 3 per cent on economic worries

Taiwan stocks fall nearly 3 per cent on economic worries Taipei - Taiwan stocks fell nearly 3 per cent Thursday over underlying economic worries as President Ma Ying-jeou said he would not be able realize his pledge to boost Taiwan's economy within his term.

The TAIEX index dipped 172.30 points, or 2.62 per cent, to close at 6,412.63.

Leading the fall are China-related shares - electronics, tourism, shipping, aviation and construction shares. Tourism companies lost ground as arrivals from mainland China remained below expectations.

Four airlines offer to fly Chinese pandas to Taiwan

Eva AirlinesTaipei - Four airlines have offered to fly a pair of giant pandas free of charge from China to Taiwan, the Taipei Zoo said Wednesday.

Yeh Chieh-sheng, director of the Taipei Zoo, said two Taiwan carriers - the China Airlines and EVA Air - as well as the China Southern Airlines and Federal Express, have offered to fly the two panda bears - Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan - from Chengdu to Taipei.

The Taipei Zoo will use one of the four carriers to fly the pandas to Taipei in November, and put them on display in January 2009, Yeh told reporters.

Taiwan banking consortium to cut high-speed rail loan interest

Taiwan, TaipeiTaipei- A Taiwan banking consortium on Tuesday agreed to cut the interest rate on its loan to the Taipei High-Speed Rail Corp (THSRC), which has gone into the red.

The banking consortium has agreed to cut the interest rate on its loan to the THSRC from 8.1 to 4.59 per cent, Broadcasting Corp of China (BCC) reported, apparently after being persuaded to do so by the government.

The reduced rate can help the THSRC to save 1.4 billion Taiwan dollars (45 million US dollars) annually in interest, BCC said.

Taiwan eases travel from outlying islands for mainlanders

Taipei & ChinaTaipei- Taiwan announced new measures Tuesday to further open up the island to the mainland by allowing Chinese people to visit through two of its former defence outposts.

"The cabinet is expected to approve the new measures this Thursday to allow mainland Chinese to visit the Taiwan proper via Kinmen and Matsu," a statement from the Mainland Affairs Council said Tuesday.

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