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President Lee Meets with Rotary Delegates
1999-08-12

Taipei, Aug. 12 (CNA) President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China said Thursday that his government will continue promoting cross-strait consultations and seeking consensus with goodwill.

The government has always been practical in initiating, step by step, a new understanding concerning the interaction between Taiwan and mainland China, in hopes that the distance between the two sides' state of development would narrow for the benefit of all the people, Lee remarked.

He reiterated that the "special state-to-state" cross-strait relationship he brought up recently is based primarily on the necessity of protecting national interests and dignity.

Lee's remarks were made when he met with delegates of the regional 3490 Rotary Club.

Lee told the delegates that insuring the survival and development of the country has always been seen as his obligation since he became president 11 years ago, and to fulfill that responsibility his government must balance domestic issues, mainland issues and foreign affairs issues.

In regard to domestic issues, Lee said, the government has fared well in the pursuit of democracy while maintaining economic growth and social security, even during the Asian financial crisis.

As for the mainland issue, Lee pointed out that in 1991 the government took the initiative in demonstrating its goodwill by renouncing the use of force to reunify China, acknowledging Beijing's rule on the Chinese mainland, and replacing military confrontation with peaceful exchanges and dialogue. The establishment of the National Unification Council and the promulgation of the Guidelines for National Unification are concrete approaches to promote cross-strait exchanges, Lee added.

Lee stressed that the "special state-to-state relationship" statement was aimed at letting the international community understand the existence of the ROC. Only by highlighting the ROC's existence can the development of the ROC in the international community be possible, he continued.

As for the foreign affairs aspect of his responsibilities, Lee said that the government's endeavors to establish an international presence and national dignity represent the consensus of all the people in Taiwan.

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