Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Tuesday he hopes the two sides of the Taiwan Strait can be admitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) simultaneously in the first half of next year.
Chen made the appeal while meeting with visiting U.S. Senator Max Baucus for wide-ranging talks.
President Chen told the Democratic senator from Montana that he looks forward to seeing Taipei's and Beijing's smooth WTO entry next spring without any political interference.
Chen also expressed his hope that the United States continues to play an even more active role in the development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations.
Baucus joined 14 other U.S. senators in 1992 to push then-U.S. President George Bush to support the Republic of China's bid to join the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which was superseded by the WTO in 1995. "We are grateful for your support for our national cause," Chen told Baucus.
Baucus has been concerned about Taiwan's security and supports continued U.S. supply of defensive weapons to Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
President Chen requested Baucus to continue joining forces with his congressional colleagues to back security, peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the entire Asia-Pacific region.
Touching on cross-strait relations, Chen told Baucus said he will abide by the ROC constitution to maintain national sovereignty and dignity while engaging mainland China.
Chen also pledged his determination to improve cross-strait relations with wisdom and vision. "My administration is now working hard to forge a national consensus on how to respond to Beijing's 'one China' principle and to forge a new framework for bilateral engagement," he explained.
Chen told Baucus that a cross-party presidential advisory group has recently come up with "three understandings and four recommendations" on the future development of cross-strait ties, including that any changes to Taiwan's present "status quo" must have the assent of the people of Taiwan.
As the ROC's national leader, Chen said he fully understands that he is obligated to maintain peace and security in the Taiwan Strait for the well-being of Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
For his part, Baucus said he is impressed by Taiwan's remarkable progress in democratic reform since his first visit to the island in 1992. He particularly lauded Taiwan for its peaceful democratic transfer of power between different political parties in May.
Baucus also told President Chen that he is convinced whoever wins the cliffhanger U.S. 2000 presidential election, the incoming U.S. administration will continue supporting the ROC and the current cross-strait status quo. He also suggested that Taiwan strengthen trade and economic exchanges with the mainland to facilitate resumption of cross-strait dialogue.