양안관계, 남북관계 (2012년 9월 19일)

우리는 남한과 북한의 관계를 남북관계라 하는데, 중국과 대만은 서로의 관계를 양안관계라고 합니다. 양쪽의 해안이 중국과 대만 사이를 흐르는 대만해협에 면하고 있기 때문입니다. 이명박 정부 들어 악화일로를 걷고 있는 남북관계와 대조적으로, 양안관계는 빠른 속도로 발전하고 있습니다. 

엊그제 대만대표부에서 보내온 이메일 뉴스레터 'Taiwan Today'에 보니 대만과 중국은 양해각서를 체결해 서로의 화폐로 거래하기로 했으며 대만은행의 상하이 지점이 정산 대리 은행으로 지정되었다고 합니다. 또한 상호간 물품 이동, 특히 중국내에 거주하는 대만인들의 편의를 위해 택배 서비스도 더욱 개선했다고 합니다. 남북관계에서 이와 같은 진전을 보려면 얼마나 기다려야 할지, 마음이 착잡합니다. 'Taiwan Today'에서 두 기사를 부분적으로 옮겨둡니다. 영어공부 겸해서 한 번 읽어보시지요.

 

The ROC Central Bank announced Sept. 17 that Bank of Taiwan’s Shanghai branch has been selected as the nation’s cross-strait currency clearing agent. ㅆhe central bank’s announcement came following the inking of a cross-strait memorandum of understanding on currency settlement Aug. 31. The pact is set to take effect 60 days after each side completes administrative procedures.

Bank of Taiwan stood out from seven other applicants in its financial statement and experience with foreign exchange, the central bank said. In the early stages it will provide New Taiwan dollar clearing services in mainland China.

Bank of Taiwan will need to submit an operating plan for approval by the central bank and the People’s Bank of China, which is yet to name its clearing agent.

“As the largest bank in Taiwan, we have always hoped for the chance to become a cross-strait currency clearing agent,” Bank of Taiwan said in a statement. The bank noted that it has been the NT dollar correspondent bank for years, and has abundant experience in currency identification and other exchange operations such as collection and payment, transit, supply and demand adjustments, and the return of currency.

Set to take effect in October, the memorandum is perceived as an important first step for local institutions in offering yuan-denominated settlement services. 

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Taipei-based Chunghwa Post Co. Ltd. upgraded its cross-strait courier service Sept. 17 in response to increasing demand for greater convenience from ROC nationals in mainland China. The new offering, which falls under the Express Mail Service brand, divides mainland China into six regions with distance-based charges. The existing service calculates a flat rate for all packages bound for the other side of the strait.

Average delivery cost for outbound consignments will fall by NT$92 (US$3.20) to NT$390 per item, with shipments to mainland China’s coastal provinces racking up the biggest savings of between 21 percent and 34 percent.

One advantage of the service is that prescription medication can now be delivered to the other side of the strait. This feature was put in place following detailed consultations between Chunghwa Post and the ROC Department of Health.

At present, the state-run company handles cross-strait postal volume of 25,000 packages per month.

According to Chunghwa Post, the service is offered in partnership with Beijing-based China Postal Express and Logistics Co. Ltd.