Minister of Foreign Affairs Eugene Chien (簡又新) met with US Vice President Dick Cheney in private on Sunday on the sidelines of the 22nd American Enterprise Institute (AEI) World Forum in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
Chien confirmed that the meeting took place, but would not divulge any details regarding his talks with Cheney out of respect for his host and the sensitivity of the meeting.
Informed sources said Chien discussed Taiwan-US relations with Cheney and other matters of mutual concern. Taiwan Repres-entative to the US Chen Chien-jen (程建人) was also present at the meeting.
Chien had already met Cheney during the past three days on several occasions, but they had only shaken hands and chatted informally on those encounters.
Also, Chien held bilateral talks with US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and government leaders of other countries on a broad range of issues of mutual interest.
Chin Jih-hsin (秦日新), director of the North American Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs who was also attending the World Forum, said Chien has reaffirmed Taiwan's support for the global war on terrorism and reconstruction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan while meeting with US officials and congressional leaders.
This was the first time that Chien has attended the annual AEI World Forum since he assumed office in February last year. Chien said the meeting was fruitful and that he was delighted to see the ROC national flag hoisted along with those of other participating countries on major streets of Beaver Creek -- a popular mountain resort in Colorado -- and at the conference venue.
Chien left for New York on Sunday afternoon for his first visit there since assuming office. Sources said Chien will take advantage of the visit to seek US support for Taiwan's plan to hold a referendum on some public issues such as participation in the World Health Assembly and the fate of the nation's controversial Fourth Nuclear Power Plant.
Chien will tell American authorities that the planned referendum is mainly designed for citizens to express their opinions about selected policy issues which have nothing to do with Taiwan's future status, the sources said, adding that Chien is expected to assure the White House that the planned referendum will not violate President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) promise in his inaugural speech that there would be no promotion in a referendum on whether Taiwan should move toward independence or unification with China.
According to Chien, Douglas Paal, director of the Taipei Office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) , expressed the US government's concern at a June 16 meeting with him and at a farewell party held a week earlier for the outgoing AIT Taipei deputy director.
Chien said the US government is worried that the situation might get out of control if Taiwan calls for an unprecedented referendum, which would probably have an adverse effect on cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
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