Ma: ECFA will boost economic growth

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-Jeou says signing the ECFA will help boost the island's economic growth. Ma made the remark while visiting some small and medium sized enterprises in Kaohsiung. Ma noted that Taiwan's economic structure is export-oriented, with the mainland being its biggest trading partner.

That's why the ECFA has to be sealed. Ma stresses, that regional economic integration is an inevitable trend worldwide. Figures show that Asian regions have signed over 50 trade deals with one another so far. Ma Ying-jeou fears that if the island can not find a place in regional economic integration, it might become marginalized from the rest of the world.

Ma Yingjeou, said, "I have to be the first one to go out there, to see what it will be like in 10, or 20 or even 30 years. If I can't see the point now, honestly speaking, I don't deserve to be the leader of Taiwan."