They came, they saw . . . they sat down together and decided they could do business.
That was the bottom line for some 800 top executives from Utah, the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) who gathered in the Little America Hotel this week for the 15th Joint Business Conference of the USA-ROC and the ROC-USA Economic Councils - American and Taiwanese business groups dedicated to enhancing trade between the two nations.But because of an illness in his family, one Utahn was missing from the plenary session where he was scheduled to be honored by the joint councils - a man who everyone agreed was the main reason the gathering was held in Salt Lake City this year.
David M. Kennedy, treasury secretary under President Richard M. Nixon and U.S. ambassador at large to NATO, missed the day's session but was able to attend the Thursday night dinner at which he was lauded for his many years of service to the cause of U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Kennedy, now retired, founded the USA-ROC Economic Council in 1976 in the hopes of developing better trade between the United States and Taiwan, a country described as an "economic miracle" many times during the three-day convention.
USA-ROC Chairman Caspar Weinberger, Kennedy's replacement since he retired last December, and members of both councils praised Kennedy as a great friend of the United States and the ROC.
"We deeply appreciate the 14 years of valuable work our founder gave us," Weinberger told the gathering in the hotel's grand ballroom.
Former ROC Premier Yu Kuo-hua recalled that Kennedy was concerned by the "deep damage," in relations with Taiwan following Nixon's historic trip to the People's Republic of China. Kennedy then decided to create the council to retain trade links between the two nations.
Today, said Yu, Taiwan is the sixth largest supplier of imports to the United States "and much of the credit goes to Ambassador Kennedy. I have come to tell him of the gratitude all of us in Taiwan have for him."
Weinberger, President Ronald Reagan's defense secretary, told the group that it is extremely important to the United States' trading future that it "support the economic miracle of Taiwan - a nation that has never had a minus sign in its annual report and for whom 5.5 percent real GNP growth is considered a recession."
Referring to the trade imbalance between the United States and Taiwan, , Weinberger said it's no mystery why it exists. "It happens because American consumers want to buy goods made in Taiwan. It's that simple."
C.F. Koo, Weinberger's counterpart as chairman of the ROC-USA Council, told the group that the world has changed in the past 10 months and that the upheaval in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe will have "overwhelming effects" for Taiwan and the United States.
"At this meeting, we want to explore how our two countries can work closely together as we invite U.S. businesses to compete for a large share of our business," said Koo. "We'll improve our trade balance . . . but the U.S. must allow Taiwan to play its proper role in world trade. We are prepared to assume our share of responsibilities commensurate with our new status."
Gov. Norm Bangerter told the group he is encouraged by the changes taking place throughout the world and that, more than most, Utah is aware of the changes taking place in Taiwan and is well poised to help.
"I've been there three times, and I'll be there again in 60 days," the governor told the Taiwan delegation. "You are our ninth largest market (and) we have withstood the current recession partly because of the companies that have invested here with us from Taiwan." Compeq Corp., at Taiwan-based manufacturer, recently opened a computer circuit board assembly plant at the Salt Lake International Center business park.
Sen. Jake Garn, R-Utah, told the group he "never had understood our (the United States') China policy" in which the People's Republic of China, communist China, is given full diplomatic status while the nation's longtime friend, Taiwan, "is treated cavalierly."
Garn said the "brutal communist regime" in the People's Republic has not changed its ways and that "I'm one senator who will not vote for unqualified most favored nation trading status for mainland China."
Vincent C. Siew, minister of economic affairs for Taiwan, told the gathering that trade with the United States has been made easier by his country's lowering of trade barriers.
Siew said American companies will find "willing partners" in Taiwan to guide them through the intricacies of the ROC market and to help them expand their operations throughout East Asia.