Taiwan's New President Pledges Better Relations with China
By VOA News
20 May 2008
Taiwan's newly-inaugurated president has called for a resumption of dialogue with China.
In his inaugural address Tuesday, President Ma Ying-jeou said he would pursue cross-Strait ties and regional stability.
The 57-year-old Harvard University graduate was sworn in at the presidential office building in Taipei. He then greeted well-wishers.
Mr. Ma, who replaces President Chen Shui-bian, is a member of the Nationalist Party, which supports stronger business and transportation ties with China. Since the March election, hopes have run high in Taiwan that Taipei and Beijing may be able to put aside their political differences and boost economic ties.
Taiwan and China split during a civil war in 1949. Beijing regards the self-ruled island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force against the island if it takes any formal steps towards independence.
Last month, Taiwan's Supreme Court upheld a lower court's acquittal of Mr. Ma on corruption charges. The former Taipei mayor was accused last year of illegally diverting more than 300,000 dollars from a public discretionary fund to his personal accounts.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
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