Taiwan in September last year launched a trial program to grant 14-day visa-free entry to Russian citizens, although Russia does not have a reciprocal program. The flight to Vladivostok, one of the biggest cities in east Russia, takes about four hours, showing that “Russia is not that far” from Taiwan, Petrov said in an interview with the Taipei Times and the Chinese-language Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister paper) on Thursday. There are 430 Russian students and 12 teachers in Taiwan, while 172 Taiwanese students and 13 teachers reside in Russia, it added. Asked what attracts Russia to the Taiwanese market, Petrov said Taiwan has a growing economy and a large energy market. Biletaral trade last year totaled US$6.6 billion, showing that there is an interest from businesses on both sides, Petrov said.

Source: Taipei Times June 02, 2019 15:56 UTC