Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Hsu Hsin-liang (許信良), heading up a group championing agricultural exchanges across the Taiwan Strait, met with Beijing's top official in charge of Taiwan affairs, Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) for talks yesterday.
During the meeting with Hsu's 21-member group, Chen, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that agricultural sectors on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should bolster their exchanges and cooperation, given that the two sides have many complementary characteristics and share common interests.
Hsu then engaged in a closed-door meeting with Chen.
Hsu has recently co-founded a new political group , the Taiwan Democratic School. He is also running for a seat in next month's legislative elections as an independent.
Hsu and the delegation is scheduled to meet with Hui Liangyu (回良玉), a State Council vice premier in charge of agricultural affairs, today for talks on the feasibility of stepped-up agricultural ties across the Strait.
In related news, Zhang Mao (張矛), the vice mayor of Beijing said yesterday that his city may use lessons learned in Taipei's public transportation systems to help alleviate potential traffic jams during the 2008 Olympic Games in the capital.
Talking to visiting members from the Taipei Journalists Association, Zhang said that Beijing will develop the city's mass rapid transportation system to avoid a traffic nightmare from taking place during the Games.
Beijing City authorities may borrow Taipei's experiences in streamlining its traffic conditions, including opening exclusive traffic lanes for buses, Zhang told Taiwanese journalists.
Answering a reporter's question as to whether Beijing will consider inviting Taipei to jointly host some events of the 2008 Olympic Games, Zhang said some people have suggested that Beijing move the equestrian competition to Hong Kong, taking advantage of the special administrative region's long history of horse racing.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS