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Ma talks up direct cross-strait flights, Chinese tourists

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, right, makes a gesture while talking to eight citizens who won an online contest for a chance to meet with the chairman yesterday. The meeting format was a tea party at 228 Memorial Park. PHOTO: WANG YI-SUNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said that Taiwan's stock market would likely break through the 10,000 barrier if the government established direct cross-strait flights and allowed more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan.

Ma made the remarks during a tea party at 228 Memorial Park with eight citizens who won an online contest for a chance to meet with the chairman. He was responding to one participant's worries over the nation's slumping economy.

"Taiwan has the most advantageous position geographically, but the ban on direct flights and Chinese tourists has put Taiwan in an inferior position compared with many other Asian countries," Ma said.

Ma once again lauded the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) decision to allow Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan, and called on President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) "not to interfere with the Executive Yuan's decision this time."

Ma said that allowing Chinese tourists to visit could revitalize the local tourist and service industries and create more opportunity for cross-strait exchanges. He also suggested that the government should allow Chinese students to attend college in Taiwan.

Participant Shi Jing-chuan (史景全) raised the issue of the KMT's position in cross-strait development and cast doubt on the practical results of the KMT-Chinese Communist Party summit.

But Ma defended the meeting.

"What the KMT is doing now is to build a bridge between Taiwan and China. If the DPP government is willing to walk on the bridge, then there will be positive development," Ma responded.

Besides serious issues, participants at tea party also asked about how to keep one's hair black, how to teach kids about relationships and the secret to achieving a high "EQ" or emotional quotient. Housewife Fang Ching-mei (方靜鎂) praised Ma's "charming eyes" for "making me shy when looking at me" as the chairman was answering her question, and even tried to kiss Ma when having her picture taken with him.

In response to participants' curiosity and passion, Ma lauded their input on economic and political issues.

"They shared some deep thoughts and questions on some key issues. People who are in power should never ignore the voice of our citizens or treat them as idiots," he said.
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