The number-two man in the Chinese embassy in Washington says that, while Taiwan's imminent entry into the WTO will promote greater economic exchanges, Beijing's "one China" principle will continue to dominate cross-strait affairs.
Deputy chief of mission He Yafei (何亞飛) told reporters that yesterday's agreement by the WTO working group on Taiwan on terms for Taiwan's accession to the global trade body will "certainly contribute and provide a better environment, provide greater impetus to both sides to engage in more trade and economic exchanges."
However, he noted in a meeting with the Washington press corps, "the key [to cross-strait relations] is for the Taiwan authorities to take into account the interest of Taiwan people, [and] accept the `one China principle.' That will facilitate not only a resumption of political dialogue, but also a better environment for economic and trade exchanges."
The working group, meeting in Geneva, agreed yesterday to all terms for Taiwan's accession to the WTO. That opens the way for the WTO ministerial session, meeting in Doha, Qatar in November, to formally approve Taiwan's membership. That membership is expected to become final early next year after Taipei formally accepts the membership package.
The action on Taiwan came a day after the working group for China formally approved the Beijing accession package.
The US government hailed Taiwan's impending accession.
"Taiwan's WTO accession will help boost the strength of the Asia-Pacific economies, both now and in the future," said US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick.
"Taiwan is an economic powerhouse whose membership in the WTO will benefit the United States, Taiwan, and other members of the multilateral trading system," he said.
He Yafei's press conference came just two days before Chinese Foreign Minister Tan Jiaxuan (唐佳璇) arrives in Washington at the invitation of US Secretary of State Colin Powell for talks aimed at preparing for President George W. Bush's state visit to Beijing in late October.
He declined to say whether President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) decision to ease restrictions on cross-strait contacts would ease the way for the resumption of talks between Taipei and Beijing.
He repeated Beijing's stance that "as long as Taiwan authorities can accept the `one China' principle, dialogue can resume anytime, and anything -- we mean very seriously -- anything can be discussed and negotiated between our two sides."
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