Premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) said the meeting between President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Monday could provide `the spark' for future cooperation.
"Their conversation `sparked,' although they did not find any common ground during the meeting," Su told reporters yesterday.
"We want to affirm it, encourage and welcome more talks or conversations like this in the near future," he said on the legislative floor in response to a question from People First Party (PFP) caucus whip Lu Hsueh-chang (呂學樟).
Ma, however, said yesterday that the meeting was counterproductive and the possibility of a second meeting was slim.
Su said Chen had invited Ma to discuss more issues of concern to the economy and people's daily life in the future instead of just political issues.
"I think Chairman Ma has received the message," he said.
He said Monday's session had established a good model for meetings between political parties, adding: "It was an ignition. A very powerful ignition."
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus yesterday backed the idea of a second meeting on economic issues.
DPP caucus whip Chen Chin-jun (陳景峻) said it was a pity that the two leaders did not reach consensus, but only elaborated their own positions.
If the pair could meet again and concentrate on economic policies, it would be a more effective and meaningful meeting and one that could meet the public's expectations, he said.
"The legislators could make laws in terms of the economic issues that [President] Chen and Ma reach a consensus on. We also urge the KMT to attend the conference on sustainable economic development to be held by the government in May or in June," Chen Chin-jun said.
Ma told reporters yesterday that he was disappointed with Monday's outcome.
"If President Chen had shifted his focus to livelihood and economic issues, then it would have been worthwhile. But I guess the result was the opposite of what we wanted," he said.
He also denied that he had acted as a messenger for the US, and said his suggestion of a meeting had been the "last effort to persuade him [Chen] that there is room for cross-strait relations to develop."
"I hope that he can go ahead and do things the KMT is not entitled to do. We do not mind letting him have all the credit. We just want to save the economy," Ma said.
Pan-green camp leaders, including Su and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun, expressed a willingness to meet with Ma. The KMT boss, however, showed no interest in meeting with any DPP leaders in the near future.
"If Premier Su has ideas, he can just put them into practice ? Any further meetings would depend on timing and the issues. Some meetings are helpful, but others aren't," he said.
Additional reporting by Jewel Huang
Foreign travelers entering Taiwan on a short layover via Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport are receiving NT$600 gift vouchers from yesterday, the Tourism Administration said, adding that it hopes the incentive would boost tourism consumption at the airport. The program, which allows travelers holding non-Taiwan passports who enter the country during a layover of up to 24 hours to claim a voucher, aims to promote attractions at the airport, the agency said in a statement on Friday. To participate, travelers must sign up on the campaign Web site, the agency said. They can then present their passport and boarding pass for their connecting international
Temperatures in northern Taiwan are forecast to reach as high as 30°C today, as an ongoing northeasterly seasonal wind system weakens, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said yesterday that with the seasonal wind system weakening, warmer easterly winds would boost the temperature today. Daytime temperatures in northern Taiwan and Yilan County are expected to range from 28°C to 30°C today, up about 3°C from yesterday, Tseng said. According to the CWA, temperature highs in central and southern Taiwan could stay stable. However, the weather is expected to turn cooler starting tonight as the northeasterly wind system strengthens again
COOLING OFF: Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of about 20°C on Sunday and possibly 18°C to 19°C next week, following a wave of northeasterly winds on Friday The Central Weather Administration (CWA) on Sunday forecast more rain and cooler temperatures for northern Taiwan this week, with the mercury dropping to lows of 18°C, as another wave of northeasterly winds sweeps across the country. The current northeasterly winds would continue to affect Taiwan through today, with precipitation peaking today, bringing increased rainfall to windward areas, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng (劉沛滕) said. The weather system would weaken slightly tomorrow before another, stronger wave arrives on Friday, lasting into next week, Liu said. From yesterday to today, northern Taiwan can expect cool, wet weather, with lows of 22°C to 23°C in most areas,
Taiwan sweltered through its hottest October on record, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, the latest in a string of global temperature records. The main island endured its highest average temperature since 1950, CWA forecaster Liu Pei-teng said. Temperatures the world over have soared in recent years as human-induced climate change contributes to ever more erratic weather patterns. Taiwan’s average temperature was 27.381°C as of Thursday, Liu said. Liu said the average could slip 0.1°C by the end of yesterday, but it would still be higher than the previous record of 27.009°C in 2016. "The temperature only started lowering around Oct. 18 or 19
RSS