Chen-Soong meeting agreed on

Top officials of the Presidential Office and the PFP reached a consensus yesterday that President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and PFP Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜) will meet within one week to discuss the country's economic development and other important issues.

"The earliest possible date for their meeting may be Oct. 20," Secretary General to the President Chen Shih-meng (陳師孟) told reporters after his closed-door negotiation with the PFP Secretary General Chung Jung-chi (鍾榮吉) yesterday evening.

"They will exchange views on the country's overall development, and especially discuss how to revive the economy. Their meeting will be partly open to the media and partly in private to allow them express certain ideas privately," he said.

The top aide to the president said that Chen attaches importance to the opportunity of having direct talks with Soong because it is a good way to create a consensus between the government and opposition parties.

"Taiwan needs to eliminate the difference in opinions between the political parties in order to draw on the collective wisdom and absorb all useful ideas for guiding the government to make policy," he said.

Chen said that the meeting with Soong would be the first step for the president to listen to all party leaders, including KMT Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) and TSU Chairman Huang Chu-wen (黃主文).

Chung also told the media that the PFP will respect the Presidential Office's arrangements, but he stressed that the Chen-Soong meeting is not exactly the "political parties' summit" the president has in mind.

"Chairman Soong just simply hopes to deliver the real voice from the grass roots of the country to the head of the state," he said.

Chung added that the decision on whether to attend the president's party leader summit should be discussed later and that for the time being the PFP has no suggestions for other political parties.

Soong told reporters yesterday that he is preparing a report about the PFP's views on social problems that do not necessarily fall under the rubric of any party line.

"The most important task for the country is the economic issue and cross-strait relations," Soong said. "Taiwan should stand firm on the country's position, especially in developing the economy and consider citizens' maximum interests."

"Just like Germany and France, both of which strongly support the US-led anti-terrorist campaign, and both of which maintain their own foreign policy," he added.