The nation’s top cross-strait negotiator said yesterday that cross-strait relations would gradually return to normal after Beijing said the visit to Taiwan of the Dalai Lama would have a negative impact on cross-strait ties.
Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), who left for Japan yesterday to attend a Taiwan-Japan economic forum, said at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport he hoped the impact of the visit of the spiritual leader would soon taper off.
ACHIEVEMENTS
“It has been an important policy of the Chinese Nationalist Party [KMT] government since it returned to power last year to improve cross-strait relations,” he said. “Over the past year, many achievements have been made and they have had a positive effect on Taiwan’s economy and cross-strait ties.”
Chiang said Beijing appeared to have done its best to restrain itself regarding the visit of the Dalai Lama. Although there was criticism, Chiang said, Beijing did not wish to see any major changes in cross-strait relations.
As time passes, things should return to normal, he said.
MEETING
Asked whether the Dalai Lama’s visit would have a negative impact on the upcoming high-level cross-strait talks between him and his Chinese counterpart, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林), Chiang said both sides have discussed the issues set for the meeting as scheduled.
The fourth round of Chiang-Chen meetings is expected to be held in Taiwan later this year. Among the issues the two sides intend to address are fishing industry cooperation, agricultural products quality checks, cross-strait cooperation in inspection and certification, and the prevention of double taxation.
PRAYER
Amid the crisis caused by Typhoon Morakot, Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) and six other local government chiefs governed by the Democratic Progressive Party invited the Dalai Lama to come to Taiwan and pray for the victims and survivors.
Ma approved the Buddhist leader’s visit on Aug. 26, saying the decision was based on religious and humanitarian considerations. The Dalai Lama arrived on Aug. 31 and left on Friday.
The visit sparked a war of words between the KMT and DPP. While the KMT criticized the DPP for pulling a “political stunt,” the DPP argued that the visit was purely religious and humanitarian.
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