President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said the fact that former Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan (連戰) could represent him at this year’s APEC Forum in Peru later this month was a goodwill gesture extended by Beijing and that he would like to see such a model become a norm in Taiwan’s participation in international affairs.
“It will only benefit cross-strait relations if both sides extend goodwill to each other,” Ma said.
He said it was beneficial to both cross-strait relations and the country’s participation in international organizations that Lien could attend the leaders summit.
PHOTO: AP
“To participate in international organizations and enjoy dignity in the international community is a way for Taiwanese people to feel a sense of honor,” he said.
Among those international organizations was the WHO, Ma said.
Ma also proposed that Taiwan negotiate free-trade questions under the framework of APEC. However, Ma said that he realized the task would be difficult.
Ma made the remarks while receiving Lien and the APEC delegation at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.
The informal economic leaders’ meeting will take place in Lima from Nov. 21 through Nov. 23. Scheduled to speak at the summit are Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, US President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).
While China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said that whether Hu and Lien would meet during the summit was subject to negotiation, a senior Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official, who asked to remain anonymous, yesterday said the council was not involved in the negotiation process.
Ma yesterday said he hoped Lien could take the opportunity to promote Taiwan’s contribution to the global economy and regional peace. Taiwan will from now on play the role of a peacemaker in the region and with the easing of cross-strait tensions, relationships with other countries will improve and mutual trust will be enhanced, Ma said.
Since Taiwan and China joined APEC in 1991, Beijing has blocked Taipei’s presidents and foreign ministers from attending the group’s forums, citing a memorandum of understanding signed with China and Hong Kong before Taipei joined the group under the name “Chinese Taipei.” Under this the three economies entered the organization as a single economic entity.
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