Taipei, June 19 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said on Monday that balance and sharing are the basis of philosophy behind his "new middle path".
In a courtesy meeting with William Kirwan, president of Ohio State University at Columbus, the Republic of China president said he has recently been contemplating what road that island should follow, and has concluded that the best way is to reconcile the differences of the various political forces in Taiwan, which he referred to as a "new middle path."
Chen said that balance and sharing are the two pillars which must be taken into account in juggling the conflicting interests of various forces, such as balancing the interests of the poor against those of the rich, urban against the rural, industrial development against the environment, as well as Taiwan against mainland China.
Only a balanced approach can make possible a sharing of interests and best serve the needs of all sections of society, said Chen.
During the meeting, Chen welcomed Kirwan to Taiwan and called for closer exchanges between Ohio State University and local institutes of higher learning.