The Presidential Office yesterday defended vice president-elect Wu Den-yih’s (吳敦義) planned attendance at the Boao Forum for Asia summit in Hainan, China, from March 31 to April 3, brushing aside criticism from opposition legislators that the trip was a disgrace to Taiwan.
Wu will attend the annual conference as a senior advisor of the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation and could meet Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (李克強), who is expected to become premier in the next transition of power in Beijing.
Presidential Office spokesman Fan Chiang Tai-chi (范姜泰基) said Wu would use the occasion to boost the country’s international reputation and strengthen cooperation with foreign countries.
“The Boao Forum is a global economic forum, and our delegation will attend the forum on an equal footing with delegations from other countries. It presents a great chance to boost the nation’s international reputation and create opportunities for cooperation and exchanges,” he said.
Wu will not be the first vice president-elect to make an appearance at the forum. In 2008, Vice President Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) attended the conference before his inauguration and met Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤).
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will meet members of Wu’s delegation before they leave for China, Fan Chiang said.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has accused Wu of failing to attend the forum as a national leader or official, saying the vice president-elect should demand to be placed under those categories to show that there is “one China” with different interpretations.
Radio Taiwan International chairman Chang Jung-kung (張榮恭), the delegates’ spokesman, dismissed a DPP accusation that Wu had first filed his application to attend the forum with China, saying it was up to Taiwan to finalize Wu’s trip.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Fan Liqing (范麗青) also confirmed that Wu would attend the forum. Asked about Wu’s itinerary, Fan said China would welcome Wu’s participation in the event and would offer its assistance.
This year’s meeting will focus on the theme of promoting healthy and sustainable development in Asia, organizers said. Topics to be discussed include the European debt crisis, unemployment and growth, reform of the international monetary system and strategic breakthroughs by Asia’s manufacturing sector.
A number of prominent business executives, including HTC Corp chairwoman Cher Wang (王雪紅), have registered to attend the forum, organizers said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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