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CHEN CALLS FOR PEACEFUL DIALOGUE TO RESOLVE CROSS-STRAIT ISSUE

Central News Agency

2005-05-04 21:49:23

    Fiji, May 4 (CNA) Visiting ROC President Chen Shui-bian said in Fiji Wednesday that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should engage in peaceful dialogue and consultations to resolve their disputes.

    Chen, who arrived in Fiji in the evening for an unannounced transit stop, made the remarks while addressing a dinner given in his honor by Ratu Ovini Bokini, chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs -- a traditional body of Fijian tribal chieftains whose chairman has enormous clout in public affairs.

    Chen and his entourage flew to Tuvalu from Kiribati by three small planes for a brief state visit in the morning. They were originally scheduled to return to Kiribati and then depart for the U.S. territory of Guam via a chartered China Airlines plane for an overnight transit stop on the way back to Taipei.

    However, Chen and his small entourage flew directly from Tuvalu to Fiji for an overnight layover, marking the first time Chen has ever set foot in a country other than the United States with which the Republic of China does not maintain diplomatic ties.

    Stressing that all members of the democratic community should not be excluded from global dialogues and consultative mechanisms, Chen said Taiwan has consistently advocated peaceful solutions to the cross-strait issue and other international disputes.

    Unlike China, which enacted its so-called Anti-Secession Law in mid-March intending to unilaterally change the Taiwan Strait status quo and destabilize regional security by non-peaceful means, Chen said Taiwan has constantly worked to defuse cross-strait tensions and promote peace, democracy and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Chen expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the government of Fiji for its courage in granting him a "safe, comfortable, convenient and dignified" transit stop despite enormous pressure from Beijing.

    Over the past five decades, Chen said Taiwan has made outstanding achievements in economic development and democratic reform. However, it has often been brutally suppressed in the international community because of Beijing's diplomatic embargo.

    Against this backdrop, Chen said, Taiwan treasures its friendships from the international community. Over the past years, Fiji has on many occasions voiced support for Taiwan's cause, including Taiwan's participation in the South Pacific forum, the United Nations and the World Health Organization.

    In the face of an emerging new world order, Chen said Taiwan, as a loyal member of the "democratic community, " is willing and able to participate in more world affairs and global humanitarian aid activities.

    Despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties, the ROC has maintained close substantive ties with Fiji. The two countries signed an agreement in 1996 on exchanging diplomatic recognition, a step short of establishing full-fledged diplomatic ties.

    The two countries have also signed agreements on agricultural and sugar production cooperation.

    Taiwan has a representative office in the Fijian capital of Suva under the designation of the "Trade Mission of the Republic of China," and Fiji also has a trade and tourism office in Taipei.

    The South Pacific island nation gave Chen a red-carpet welcome, with Bokini boarding the plane to greet Chen upon his arrival at 5:40 p.m.

    Bokini also presided over a traditional welcoming ceremony and hosted a dinner in honor of Chen and his entourage.

    Chen also met with various Fiji political figures at his hotel to

exchange views on measures to boost bilateral ties. Dozens of

Taiwanese expatriates turned out to greet Chen at the hotel.

    Chen and his entourage are scheduled to depart Fiji Thursday morning and return to Taipei at 3:00 p.m. the same day.

    During his four-hour visit in Tuvalu Wednesday, Chen signed a joint communique with Tuvalu Prime Minister Maatia Toafa, reaffirming their commitment to promoting world peace, democracy and bilateral cooperation. They also condemned China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law targeting Taiwan.

    Chen planted a coconut tree at the courtyard of the Tuvalu government building to mark his visit. He is the first Republic of China head of state ever to visit the Pacific island nation.

    Many Tuvalu schoolchilden turned out to greet Chen upon his arrival.

    Chen started his current diplomatic journey Sunday in an effort to bolster Taiwan's relations with three of its South Pacific allies -- the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and Tuvalu.

    This is Chen's third overseas trip so far this year. In January, he visited the ROC's two other Pacific allies -- the Solomon Islands and Palau. Earlier this month, he made an unprecedented trip to the Vatican to attend Pope John Paul II's funeral, making him the first serving ROC president ever to set foot in Europe. The Holy See is the ROC's only diplomatic ally in Europe.

(By Sofia Wu)

ENDITEM/mw