Wang says he and Ma have `worked closely together'

Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) left for Thailand yesterday on a three-day private visit.

Responding to a question about his exchanges with Ma prior to his departure, Wang said he and former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) have "worked together closely."

Ma, who announced his bid to run for the presidency last month upon being indicted on charges of misusing a special allowance fund during his time as Taipei mayor, attended a birthday bash on Friday thrown by KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) to celebrate Wang's 66th birthday.

Wang has been reluctant to announce his own bid for the presidential election, saying only that he will accept mediation by Lien.

Lien presided over the first such mediation meeting between Wang and Ma last month but to no avail, and further mediation efforts have stalled, while a recent party chairman by-election seems to have added more uncertainty to the situation.

Wang's aides said he would meet Taiwanese businessmen, visit a subsidiary of Taiwan's Delta Electronics, and a school in Thailand before returning to Taiwan tomorrow.