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Siew satisfied with China visit

Vice president-elect Vincent Siew, right, and former US secretary of state Colin Powell smile after a meeting at the Boao Forum in Hainan, China, yesterday. Powell said he would be happy to attend the presidential inauguration on May 20 if his schedule allows. PHOTO: CNA

Vice president-elect Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) said late on Saturday that he was satisfied with the courteous reception that China accorded him at the Boao Forum in Hainan.

Siew made the remarks after attending a dinner hosted by Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) honoring the participants at the Boao Forum.

“I’m satisfied with all the warm hospitality and courteous treatment extended to me by forum organizers,” Siew told Taiwanese reporters in Hainan.

Siew is the nation’s first vice president-elect to set foot on Chinese soil. Although he is attending the forum in his capacity as chairman of the private Taipei-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, China sent a charter plane to Hong Kong to fly him and his 12-member entourage to Boao.

Siew, who will take office on May 20, said he hoped his 20-minute talk with Hu would contribute to peaceful development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

During the meeting, Siew said he proposed that the two sides “face reality, set sights on the future, shelve disputes and pursue a win-win scenario.”

“The essence of my suggestion is that cross-strait affairs should be addressed with pragmatism and openness,” Siew said, adding that Hu had responded positively to his suggestions during their meeting.

Siew said that as he departed after the dinner, Hu told him that their meeting that afternoon had been “very meaningful.”

Describing Hu’s comments as a “historic opportunity” to improve cross-strait ties, Siew said the two sides should start by tackling economic issues and put political disputes on the back burner.

Su Chi (蘇起), a former Mainland Affairs Council chairman who was also present at the Siew-Hu meeting, portrayed the talks as “candid and friendly.”

Su said Siew brought up four requests during the talks, including the resumption of a cross-strait dialogue, normalization of bilateral trade and economic ties, weekend cross-strait charter flights and opening Taiwan to Chinese tourists.

“My observation is that cross-strait negotiations will resume soon and weekend cross-strait charter flights could take off in early July,” Su said.
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