Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) Republic of China President Lee Teng-hui on Tuesday received Nicaraguan Minister of Education, Culture and Physical Education Jose Antonio Alvarado Correa at the Presidential Office.
Lee expressed the hope that Alvarado's visit will help the promotion of educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
During the meeting, Alvarado indicated his support for Lee's recent redefinition of Taiwan-mainland China relations as a "special state-to-state relationship," praising the statement as "forward-looking."
Lee told his visitor that as head of state, he must point out that Taiwan's relationship with mainland China is not a relationship between a central government and a local government, nor an internal issue, but a "special state-to-state relationship."
He said that rational cross-Taiwan Strait interactions have been stalled because of Beijing's "hegemonic posture," and added: "If we fail to present our position clearly, we can be easily driven into a corner."
Lee said his statement was intended to gain an equal footing with Beijing for future negotiations, and did not signal any change of Taiwan's policy toward mainland China.