Taipei, Feb. 18 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged Japan Friday to brush aside pressure from Beijing and grant permanent visa-free treatment to visitors from Taiwan.
Chen made the call while receiving a group of Japanese visitors composed of members of the Sino-Japanese Cultural and Economic Association.
Chen thanked Japan for its decision to extend visa-free privileges to Taiwan tourists during the 2005 World Exposition to be held in Aichi from March 25 to Sept. 25, but he expressed the hope that the Japanese government and parliament will make the measure permanent despite pressure from Beijing.
Pointing out that Japan ignored Beijing's pressure to vote in May last year in favor of Taiwan's participation as an observer in the World Health Assembly, he said he strongly believes that permanent visa-free status would not be a problem should the Japanese government fully exercise its leverage.
He also called for support from his visitors for the signing of a free trade agreement between Taiwan and Japan, describing it as an urgent matter to prevent mainland China's economic expansion.
The president also boasted of his success in strengthening Taiwan identity since he assumed the presidency for the first time in May 2000. The reasons behind his decision to step down last year from the chairmanship of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party were to carry out Taiwan-centric reform and to make Taiwan a sound, progressive, beautiful and great nation, he said.