Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), Taiwan's representative to the APEC leaders' summit, wound up his four-day schedule Sunday by inviting Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) to visit Taiwan.
Jiang however "responded by saying it was a political issue related to the `one China' principle," Lee told reporters prior to his departure from Los Cabos.
Lee appeared satisfied with his performance as the president's envoy but said that the job was really one which the president should do himself and expressed the hope that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) could attend the leaders' summit in person next year.
"I hope President Chen, not a scientist, can come next year. This is a job for the president, not for me," he said.
Lee said that the APEC summit was not an occasion to resolve complex and difficult cross-strait disputes but nevertheless fulfilled a useful task.
"It is important for people to build up mutual trust and mutual understanding through personal contacts.
"It is big progress if certain people can shake hands with each other," Lee said, referring to his interaction with Jiang the previous day.
At the start of the summit Saturday, Lee took the initiative to shake hands with Jiang and introduced himself to the Chinese leader.
Lee also said that, by virtue of being seated next to US President George W. Bush, he got the chance to talk extensively with Bush during which he touched on the topic of Taiwan-China relations.
Lee said that Bush was very concerned about cross-strait relations and expressed the hope that they could be stabilized and differences resolved in a peaceful manner.
Lee said that he had learned a lot from the summit although, as a scientist, he was unused to political gatherings.
Lee again said that it was important for Taiwan to be included in the discussion on the fight against terrorism because Taiwan is part of the Pacific region where much of that fight is being conducted.
Taiwan was barred from attending a foreign ministers' working meeting on counter-terrorism three days ago because Taiwan's foreign minister and vice foreign minister cannot attend APEC meetings according to an agreement reached by China, Taiwan and South Korea, during negotiations leading up to the entry of Taiwan, China and Hong Kong into APEC in 1991. No other representative from Taiwan was allowed to stand in for the absent minister.
"We have to show respect for the agreement, but the talk on anti-terrorism is so important that Taiwan's voice has to be heard," Lee said.
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