Foreign minister hopes Clinton will play role in Strait

Tien Hung-mao (田弘茂), the nation's minister of foreign affairs, urged US President Bill Clinton yesterday to help resume deadlocked talks between Taiwan and China when he meets with Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民).

"Recent statements by Chinese leaders have contributed to an easing of cross-strait relations. But in such an improved atmosphere, a final push (臨門一腳) is still required to help both sides of the Taiwan Strait restart talks," Tien said.

"We hope that Clinton can help push for the resumption of cross-strait talks ... He can play the role of accelerator," Tien added.

Clinton's meeting with Jiang will take place on the sidelines of a UN summit currently underway in New York.

Jiang is willing to go to Taiwan or receive Taiwanese leaders in China to open negotiations on Taiwan's future, as long as Taiwan accepts the "one China" principle, Zhu Bangzao (朱邦造), spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry said. Taiwan, however, has requested that talks begin without preconditions.