Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday the Republic of China supports a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and looks forward to seeing a peaceful solution to all disputes between the two Koreas.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with a group of South Korean National Assembly members. "Our policy toward the Korean Peninsula issue is clear and unequivocal, " Chen said. "We dislike to see any nuclear arms development programs on the peninsula and call on all parties involved to resolve disputes through peaceful dialogue."
As a member of the Asia-Pacific community, Chen said, the ROC is concerned about regional peace, security and stability. For instance, he said, Taiwan is concerned about the results of the current six-nation meeting in Beijing on East Asia's most urgent security concern -- North Korea's nuclear program and U.S. demands that it be halted immediately.
Chen said he earnestly hopes that the three-day conference will be fruitful in helping ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and eventually resolve the nuclear arms issue to maintain regional security and stability.
Noting that the ROC supports the U.S.-initiated prevention of nuclear arms proliferation plan, Chen said Taiwan's impounding of 158 barrels of a controlled chemical aboard a North Korean freighter earlier this month signifies Taiwan's commitment to opposing arms proliferation and global terrorism.
Touching on Taiwan-South Korean relations, Chen said the two countries have traditionally maintained close ties, particularly in the trade and economic fields.
Two-way trade reached US$11.58 billion last year, with South Korea enjoying a trade surplus of US$3.84 billion. Taiwan was South Korea's fifth-largest trading partner, while South Korea was Taiwan's fourth-largest import source and fifth-largest export market.
Chen said he hopes that senior officials of the two countries can strengthen exchanges of visits and resume the annual ministerial-level economic conference to boost bilateral cooperation. The annual event has been suspended since Seoul switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1992.
As to the resumption of direct flight services between the two countries, Chen said the ROC would like to see an early resumption of direct Taipei-Seoul air links under the principles of dignity, equality and reciprocity. "Our two countries should increase exchanges to avoid misunderstandings and facilitate cooperation in promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, " Chen told his guests.