Senior presidential advisers Clement Chang (張建邦) and Peng Ming-min (彭明敏) touted Taiwan's economic and democratic advances at a press conference yesterday to kick off the 2002 Asia-Pacific Democratic Cooperation Forum (APDCF).
Jointly sponsored by the World League for Freedom and Democracy, the Asian Pacific League for Freedom and Democracy, Tamkang University (
Chang said that human rights and democracy will be the main issues during the conference. The forum's participants have expressed a hope that all countries in Asia eventually adopt democracy.
Peng pointed out that human rights and democracy have become common values in the world. Peng said that experience has shown that only democratic countries can last longer.
"Taiwanese people didn't shed any blood during the democratic revolution and we should be proud of that. We're more than happy to share our experiences with our friends," Peng said.
In a joint statement, Peng and Chang said that democracy is the mainstream political value of the 21st century, has universal appeal and that Taiwan's democratization has brought the country into the global mainstream, as well as making it a leading example of democracy in Asia.
They said cooperation among the emerging regional democratic communities is the key to expanding the process to include those societies still suffering under authoritarian rule.
"We believe that a region that enjoys greater democracy and protection of human rights will surely see great benefits and peace in the world," they said in their statement.
Academics and strategists from 14 countries were invited to the conference. According to APDCF's schedule, the discussions for the first session will focus on the general development of democratization in the Asia-Pacific region.
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