Taipei, July 14 (CNA) President Lee Teng-hui reaffirmed on Wednesday that the Republic of China's policy toward Mainland China remains unchanged.
Lee made the reaffirmation while meeting with Darryl N. Johnson, outgoing director of the Taipei office of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which represents US interests in Taiwan in the absence of official ties.
Johnson bade farewell to President Lee as he will soon leave for home after three years of service in Taipei. During their talks, Johnson asked Lee his views on relations across the Taiwan Strait.
In response, Lee said his recent description of cross-strait relations as "special state-to-state relations" does not represent any change in the ROC's policy toward mainland China.
"In fact, our mainland policy remains unchanged," Lee said, adding that there is not any change in the ROC's stance and attitude toward cross-strait exchanges and dialogue.
In an interview with Germany's Deutsche Welle radio station last Saturday, Lee defined cross-strait ties as "special state-to-state" relations.
Lee told Johnson that his definition is based on historical, legal and practical viewpoints, adding he is convinced that a more detailed and unequivocal definition will be conducive to the development of cross-strait relations in the long run.
For his part, Johnson expressed his gratitude for all the assistance and support extended to him by President Lee and various ROC government agencies during his three-year stint in Taipei.
Foreign Minister Jason Hu, Ding Mou-shih, a senior adviser to the President, and Lin Pi-chao, deputy secretary-general to the President were also present at the Lee-Johnson meeting.