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Cross-strait policy evenly paced: mainland affairs chief

ROC Central News Agency

Taipei, Nov. 18 (CNA) Mainland Affairs Council Chairwoman Lai Shin- yuan said Tuesday that the government's current cross-Taiwan Strait policy is neither too fast nor too slow and will look at the risk management factors involved in the developments between Taiwan and China.

"The government's policy on the development of cross-strait ties is a step by step approach, " said Lai."We will note the risk management involved and will work to ensure that the benefits reaped are shared by all the people of Taiwan."

Lai was addressing a group of foreign investors and Taiwan business leaders at a conference in Taipei organized by the international magazine The Economist.

She was invited to speak on the redefinition of cross-strait relations in a forum titled "Business Roundtable with the Government of Taiwan".

"The efforts that the Ma administration has invested in improving cross-strait ties since President Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration on May 20th this year have produced fruitful results, " said Lai. "This is very important to cross-strait trade."

Lai noted that four historic agreements on the expansion of weekend charter flights, direct shipping links, postal exchanges and food safety were signed by Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and his mainland Chinese counterpart, President for the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chen Yunlin on Nov. 4.

"Financial issues will be covered in the third round of talks between Chiang and Chen," Lai said."The second Chiang-Chen meeting, which was held in Taipei, established a form of structured dialogue between Taiwan and China."

Lai also noted that the two sides were able to begin such dialogues based on "acknowledgement of the cross-strait reality and mutual non-denial."

"The results are that the benefits of cross-strait interactions are enjoyed by the people and there is peace in the Taiwan Strait, " Lai said.

She stressed that through the normalization of cross-strait trade, Taiwan's investment environment has become quite favorable to foreign investors.

"Taiwan could become an operational hub for foreign investors and Taiwan businessmen are eyeing the mainland Chinese market," said Lai.

She acknowledged that given the global economic crisis, neither China nor Taiwan would be able to escape the challenges ahead.

"However, we are confident about making Taiwan a central attraction for foreign investors so that capital will continue to flow into Taiwan."

A meeting between Chiang and Chen six months ago in Beijing marked the beginning of thawing relations between Taiwan and China.

A more recent meeting between the two negotiators was held in Taipei between Nov. 4-7 when Chen became the highest ranking mainland Chinese official to ever set foot on Taiwan in nearly 60 years since the end of a Chinese civil war in 1949.

The SEF and ARATS are quasi-official organizations responsible for handling cross-strait engagements in the absence of official relations. (By Andrew Lee) ENDITEM /pc