CROSS-STRAIT TIES TO BE IMPROVED AFTER HIS RE-ELECTION: PRESIDENT
2004-02-02 23:00:10
Taipei, Feb. 2 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that cross-Taiwan Strait relations will move toward reconciliation, cooperation and eternal peace if he is re-elected.
Addressing a tea party hosted by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei to mark the Lunar New Year, Chen said that his administration has taken various measures to improve relations between the two sides of the strait since he took office May 20, 2000, including the opening of the "three mini-links, " allowing mainland Chinese journalists to be stationed in Taiwan, allowing remittances between offshore banking units and their mainland Chinese counterparts, opening cross-strait charter flight services to transport Taiwan businessmen operating on the mainland and their dependents home for the Lunar New Year holiday, and helping establish schools for children of Taiwan businessmen on the mainland.
The mini three-links refer to the direct transportation and trade links between the two Taiwan-controlled outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu and the mainland's Fujian Province.
Based on the existing achievements, Chen claimed, cross-strait ties will definitely take a big step forward if he is re-elected in the March 20 presidential race.
The president said that his re-election would not only represent a personal victory for him, but would also cement Taiwan's democracy and write a chapter of history for the people of Taiwan.
Regarding the prospects for the new year, Chen said that he wishes Taiwan more economic prosperity, better social order, more consolidated freedom and democracy, and cross-strait peace.
The president also exchanged views on education, referendum, parliamentary reforms, labor policy and other topics with the nearly 200 civic organization leaders present on the occasion.
(By Huang Kwang-chun)
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