Lee to talk with minister from Singapore

Lee Yuan-tseh (李遠哲), Taiwan's representative to the APEC summit was expected to conduct bilateral talks yesterday with leaders from Singapore and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The Academia Sinica chief was to meet with Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry George Yeo, and PNG Prime Minister Somari.

George Yeo was assigned in place of Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who canceled his trip at the last minute, reportedly due to illness.

Lee arrived Thursday in Los Cabos, Mexico, where the APEC summit is being held, saying he wishes to share Taiwan's economic achievements with other member economies and vowing to win respect from other members on Taiwan's contribution to the regional grouping.

Lee told the media one that of his main duties during the trip is to send regards to Chinese President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) on behalf of President Chen (), and that he hopes the upcoming meeting of Chinese Communist Party's 16th National Congress will proceed smoothly.

Stalled direct-links talks recently got a boost after Beijing softened its rhetoric when Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) described direct links between Taiwan and China as "cross-strait" in nature.

Qian added that the proposed links were an economic matter for negotiation on which recognition of "one China" would not be required.

The public is keen to know how Lee will interact with Jiang at the APEC unofficial summit today and tomorrow and if he will have a chance to exchange views with the Chinese head of state on cross-strait matters.

While acknowledging Qian's remarks to be positive, Lee stressed the president did not ask him to pass any specific messages to Jiang.

"It would be mutually beneficial for the two sides to communicate more with an effort to eliminate misunderstanding ... [Yet] the details on the proposed direct link initiative should be discussed at the ministerial level. APEC is not the occasion to solve cross-strait disputes," Lee said.

Lee noted it was a misfortune for Taiwan to be left out Thursday from the APEC foreign ministers meeting, where the attending members discussed global efforts against terrorism.

He said that Taiwan should have participated in the discussion, even if its foreign minister was unable to attend.

But Lee indicated he would not take any action.

Minister of Economic Affairs Lin Yi-fu (林義夫) and Minister of Finance Lee Yung-san (李庸三) sent a letter of protest to the host country to express Taiwan's dissatisfaction right before the meeting was held.

Taiwan's foreign minister and vice foreign minister cannot attend the APEC meeting according to an agreement reached by China, Taiwan and intermediary South Korea, during negotiations leading up to the entry of Taipei, Beijing and Hong Kong into APEC in 1991.