Taiwan, China officials' meeting bears few results

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) met with his Chinese counterpart yesterday, becoming the second DPP Cabinet official to travel to China since President Chen Shui-bian took office last year.

But the two found little to agree on and the meeting ended without progress, officials said.

Currently in Shanghai for a two-day meeting of APEC trade ministers, Lin met with China's trade minister Shi Guangsheng (石廣生). At the meeting, Lin said the two sides of the Strait should establish a "mechanism" to promote discussion on trade and economic cooperation.

But Shi had other matters on his mind, specifically the opening of direct trade, shipping and postal and communication links between Taiwan and China.

"In view of growing investment in China from Taiwan -- with the total volume of bilateral trade reaching US$32.4 billion last year -- I suggested to him that a positive communications channel should be opened" to ensure the protection of Taiwanese investors in China, Lin said after the 20-minute meeting.

But Shi gave no direct comments on Lin's proposal, officials said. "He didn't offer any concrete response," said Steve Chen (陳瑞隆), vice minister of economic affairs.

Shi instead changed the subject to the opening of the three direct links between Taiwan and China. "Shi said both sides across the Strait should begin the three links as soon as possible on a mutually beneficial basis," Lin said.

Lin said talks should be held between the two sides, saying discussions would help to realize the direct links.

"Taiwan is currently planning the three links project. But we think that both sides should sit down and talk to seek a mechanism to enable this project to move forward," Lin said.

Lin said neither of the ministers discussed President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to visit Shanghai for the APEC leaders' summit in October.

Chen, however, found a supporter in Robert Zoellick, the US trade representative who said Chen's participation in the APEC summit would be "constructive."

"My understanding is that Taiwan participates as an economy in a different condition. And in terms of the leaders, I believe there is always an effort to try to have the leaders take part," Zoellick said yesterday.

"And I certainly think that would be a constructive step."

Taiwan's presidents, premiers as well as vice premiers have all been barred from the APEC leaders' summits due to opposition from China since 1993, when the summit was held for the first time.

Zoellick met with Lin yesterday morning and they discussed Taiwan's accession to the WTO and a series of bilateral issues, including Taiwan's commitment to liberalization of its markets as part of its WTO accession procedures, officials said.

"On the issue of the timing of Taiwan's accession [to the WTO] this is a decision that has to be made unanimously by all WTO countries," Zoellick said.

"Therefore, I think the practical and likely approach will be that China and Taiwan come in together in the same session and the United States has been working to that end."

He also said he felt it was important for Taiwan to join the world trade body.

"I would mention that I have long felt that this is important because as Taiwan moves into a different generation that is justifiably proud of its democracy and its economic achievements, it wants to feel more fully integrated into the international economic system," he said.