President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday urged New Zealand to revise its "one-China" stance, apparently suggesting the country adopt the recent practice of the US and increase high-level exchanges between Taiwan and New Zealand.
"The Republic of China is now New Zealand's ninth-largest trading partner. But the two countries rarely engage in high-level exchanges due to New Zealand's adherence to the so-called `one China' policy," Chen said.
Chen made his appeal while receiving three influential New Zealand parliamentarians, Wyatt Creech, Max Bradford and John Luxton.
"New Zealand is an independent sovereign state," Chen said. "I think there is room for New Zealand to revise its one-China stance."
The president then cited his stopovers in the US en route to and from Latin America in May this year.
"Although the United States does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with the ROC, it agreed to my transit stops in New York and Houston recently and didn't oppose my meeting a large number of members of Congress during my stay in the two American cities," Chen said.
Moreover, Chen said, the US health secretary voiced public support for Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer earlier this year.
"We hope the New Zealand government can refer to the US experience in revising and adjusting its engagement with Taiwan," Chen said.
The two countries also have a common interest in boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Chen said. He added he would continue pushing for closer bilateral relations during his presidency.
"I look forward to seeing major breakthroughs in high-level exchanges and economic cooperation between the Republic of China and New Zealand," he told his guests.
The visiting parliamentarians said their country now has many immigrants from Taiwan, who have greatly contributed to the state's development.
Creech, a former deputy prime minister, said he hopes to see political, economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and New Zealand increase steadily.
He also said New Zealand is willing to use various channels to help persuade China to resolve cross-strait disputes by peaceful means.
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