Former South Korean president Kim Young-sam's fourth visit to Taipei marks the beginning of "a completely new phase" in Taiwan's relationship with South Korea, said Taiwan's representative to Seoul Li Tsai-fang (
"The old shadows over our relationship with South Korea have totally disappeared," Li said, without elaborating.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Kim, who arrived on Monday night, met with President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen told Kim that Taiwan does not belong to the People's Republic of China (PRC).
"Taiwan is a great country, a nation with independent sovereignty ? Taiwan does not belong to the People's Republic of China," he said, adding that that nation's development will continue to follow the principles he outlined in his May 20 inauguration speech and the Double Ten National Day address.
Declining to confirm whether Kim served as a "special envoy" for South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun (盧武鉉), Li, who accompanied Kim to Taipei, noted the close relationship between Roh and Kim.
Kim helped Roh become a parliament member and has been a economic advisor to Roh, Li said.
Taiwan and South Korea cut diplomatic ties in 1992.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mark Chen (
South Korea's representative to Taiwan Hwang Yong-shik briefed Kim at the hotel yesterday morning.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (
"I am very happy I have the opportunity to visit the foundation. I fought for my country's democracy for many years and once staged a hunger strike that lasted 23 days. I regard democracy very highly," Kim said before touring the foundation.
Kim is scheduled to meet with Vice President Annette Lu (
He will give a news conference at the Grand Hotel tomorrow and depart for Kaohsiung on Friday. He will leave for home on Monday.
Kim, 77, was first elected to the National Assembly in 1954 and served nine terms. A long time political dissident, he was banned from politics from 1980 to 1985 and was twice subjected to house arrest. He ran for president in 1987 but lost. In 1993 he became South Korea's first non-military president in more than 30 years and initiated political and economic reforms.
additional reporting by Huang Tai-lin
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