Taipei, Nov. 27 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his hope Monday that the dialogue mechanism existing between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will be resumed soon and that cross-strait relations will improve.
Judging from the situation at home and abroad, Chen said, the government under his leadership will continue to deal with cross-strait issues with wisdom, responsibility and a prudent attitude. According to his judgment, Chen went on, cross-strait relations will not worsen within the next six-month to one-year period.
The president made the remarks while receiving former U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle at the Presidential Office. Quayle is making his third trip to Taiwan.
Touching on the future of relations between the ROC and the United States, Chen stressed that bilateral relations will be based on the following three fundamentals: that the people of the two countries share a common concept of maintaining the universal value of democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace; that both sides have a common expectation of peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region; and that the two sides share mutual interests in terms of trade and business.
"Relations between the ROC and the United States must be further closely developed in the future, no matter who will be in the White House," Chen noted.
Speaking on local economic development, Chen said that his government will try to stabilize the domestic political situation, as well as cross-strait relations, so as to create a good investment climate. Facing the knowledge-based economic era, the government will try to let capital and talent flow in and out without barriers so as to push Taiwan toward globalization, he added.
During the meeting, Chen noted again that although the United States will not play a mediating role between the two sides of Taiwan Straits, it can play a more positive and balancing role in stabilizing cross-strait ties. The United States can offer a better stage and bridge to create a good climate for resuming talks between the two sides of the straits, Chen said.
In addition to expressing deep concern over cross-strait ties, Quayle said he hopes Chen and his government will deal with the current economic situation with a broad and long-term view, especially as regards the "timing issue." Taiwan will set a good example for regional economic development if all the issues are carefully handled, Quayle said.
On behalf of the government and the people of the ROC, Chen expressed gratitude to Quayle for his contributions to bringing to fruition the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) at a time when he was a member of the House of Representatives and for his part in the sale of 150 F-16 jet fighters to Taiwan, which has greatly helped the safeguarding of peace in the Taiwan Strait.