President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) with China will benefit Taiwan by boosting the country's competitiveness and attraction for foreign investors. In an interview with the BBC conducted in Chinese at the Presidential Office, Ma said there has been a boom of free trade agreements (FTA) in the Asia region over the past decade -- from three to the current 58 -- and that unless Taiwan takes action quickly, it will face further isolation. The purpose of the ECFA, he said, is to normalize the existing robust cross- strait trade relationship. By doing so, it will maximize profit margins, encouraging Taiwanese businesses to stay in Taiwan and luring more foreign investment. Taipei and Beijing have tentatively agreed to sign the agreement in June, he said, but a specific date has yet to be announced. The president also stressed that by forging a trade pact with Beijing, it is hoped that other countries will be encouraged to sign free trade agreements (FTAs) or similar deals with Taiwan -- an idea that has been long been opposed by Beijing. The Chinese foreign ministry reaffirmed its stance the previous day that Beijing strongly objects to Taiwan signing FTAs with other countries. 'We hope and ask China not to impede our efforts in signing FTAs with other countries because the agreements are vital to Taiwan's livelihood,' he told the BBC. As members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), both China and Taiwan have the right to establish free trade relationships with other WTO members and Beijing should not stand in Taiwan's way, he said. While the administration has repeatedly touted the EFCA, many in Taiwan, especially the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, have warned that the pact will make Taiwan further dependent on China's economy and compromise Taiwan's sovereignty. The president acknowledged the fear and said the government is aware of potential setbacks, which is why the administration has been working very carefully to ensure Taiwan's rights will not be compromised in the process, he said. 'I have said before in open debates that if there is any possibility that Taiwan's rights will be harmed by the trade pact, then I would rather see the negotiations collapse than have the deal go through, ' he said. 'This is why we are taking each step very carefully.' In answering a question from a BBC viewer who inquired about Ma's view on 'eventual unification, ' the president emphasized his 'no unification, no independence, no war' stance on cross-strait ties. He said that during his tenure he will not push for unification with China, and that because the Republic of China has been independent since 1912, he will also not support Taiwan's de jure independence. Last month marked Ma's second anniversary in office. Looking back on the last two years, the president said the country has faced many trials, including the worldwide economic contraction and the most devastating and costly flooding the country has ever seen. 'Although we had many difficulties, we have also gained confidence in ourselves and we have been making good progress, ' he said, adding that Taiwan's growth, overall competitiveness and government efficiency have all received excellent international ratings. 