Taipei, June 15 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Thursday urged the United States to play a more active role in helping to maintain balance and stability in relations across the Taiwan Strait.
Chen made the appeal while meeting with visiting US Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater, who arrived in Taipei on Wednesday to attend the 24th Joint Conference of the ROC-USA and US-ROC (Taiwan) Business Councils.
Chen said he was encouraged by US President Bill Clinton's decision to send Slater, one of Clinton's best friends and colleagues, to attend the annual joint business conference in Taipei to signify the US government support for the new Taiwan administration.
Noting that the Republic of China and the United States share a very close and cordial relationship, Chen said he believes that maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait is not only in the interests of the ROC but also complies with US interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
Chen said that although the United States pledged in its 1982 "six assurances" not to serve as a mediator in cross-strait relations, it should play a more active role in helping to maintain Taiwan Strait peace and Asia-Pacific stability and security, as well as to improve and normalize cross-strait ties.
"I believe that my appeal exactly reflects a common hope and expectation of the people of our two countries," Chen said.
The president further said he is convinced that the just-concluded summit meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea is inspirational to future cross-strait relations.
"So long as our national security is not at stake, we are willing to promote direct trade, mail and transport links with mainland China," Chen said, adding that he is hopeful the United States will play a positive role in pushing for resumption of cross-strait dialogue to smooth the way for opening the "three direct links."
Chen also said the ROC supports the US granting of permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to mainland China with a view to making it abide by international regulations and norms.
"By so doing, mainland China is also expected to gradually move toward democratization, thus helping to maintain peace, stability and security in the Taiwan Strait and the entire Asia-Pacific region," Chen noted.
While granting PNTR status to mainland China, Chen said, the United States should also push for Taipei's and Beijing's essentially simultaneous accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The president also expressed his expectation that more ministerial-level US officials from various fields can make frequent visits to Taiwan to further upgrade bilateral ties and cooperation.
For his part, Slater acknowledged that cross-strait ties are a great challenge to the new ROC government. "With your wisdom, pragmatic attitude and constructive strategy, I believe you will be able to overcome all difficulties and reach the goal of improving relations with the mainland," Slater said, adding that the United States, as a reliable friend, will continue to support cross-strait dialogue.
Slater also assured Chen that the US government is now working to help both sides of the Taiwan Strait to enter the WTO by the end of this year.