Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie went to the Legislative Yuan today to attend the budget review meeting.

(file photo)

[Reporter Lu Yixuan/Taipei Report] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced yesterday that it will set up a "Montreal Office" in Quebec, Canada, which will be the fourth foreign embassy of my country outside of Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

Regarding the timetable for the opening of the embassy, ​​Foreign Minister Wu Zhaoxie said today that the embassy personnel, finance, and the search for local premises are all in progress very quickly, and "hope it will be implemented soon."

The Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee of the Legislative Yuan reviewed the 2012 annual budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wu Zhaoxie and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.

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Wu Zhaoxie accepted a short joint interview with the media before the meeting. Is it difficult for Taiwan to join the CPTPP?

Are many countries concerned about China and not expressing their views?

Wu Zhaoxie responded that he did not say it was difficult. We will still proceed according to the progress and see the progress of the CPTPP review of new members. Now the review is focused on the United Kingdom. If the United Kingdom has not passed the review, it will not review new membership applications.

Before we were reviewed, we continued to conduct informal consultations through bilateral relations. We hope that when we are reviewed in the future, the speed can be accelerated. This situation has not changed.

The media also asked about former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd being appointed as the Australian ambassador to the United States. Wu Zhaoxie replied that he would not talk about the bilateral relations of other countries.

Regarding the news of the cabinet reshuffle and Su's dissatisfaction with the cabinet, Wu Zhaoxie said that it was not within the scope of his authority and he could not answer.