Kaohsiung, June 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian urged the Beijing authorities Monday to resume cross-Taiwan Strait dialogue so as to build everlasting peace across the strait.
He made the remarks while meeting with executives from Taiwan businessmen's organizations in mainland China.
Chen described these businessmen as promoters of the globalization of the Taiwan economy and the precious assets of the country, saying that they have successfully displayed the vitality of Taiwan.
He thanked them for contributing to constructive economic and trade interactions between Taiwan and the mainland, helping promote the government's cross-strait policy and helping resolve problems for Taiwan
people in the mainland.
Chen said that one of the government's important tasks is to strengthen its assistance for Taiwan businessmen to bolster their international competitiveness and expand their markets in the mainland and in other countries.
Regarding the development of cross-strait relations, the president said that he reiterated on the Taiwan-controlled island of Tatan last month that normalization of cross-strait relations will be the foundation for everlasting peace in the Taiwan Strait.
As the normalization of bilateral ties must start from the normalization of economic and trade relations, Chen expressed hope that Beijing will engage in cross-strait exchanges and cooperation to lay the foundation of mutual trust and interaction.
Dialogue between the two sides has come to a standstill since former President Lee Teng-hui redefined cross-Taiwan Strait ties as a "special state-to-state relationship" in July 1999.
In his speech, Chen noted that Taiwan has become a member of the World Trade Organization and is stepping into the era of knowledge-based economy.
Facing the new situation and environment, he said that the government and the people are confident of improving the levels of both the high-technology and traditional industries.
Chen said that the government has replaced the "patience over haste" policy with "proactive liberalization with effective management" to deal with cross-strait economic and trade matters.
Several other proposals made by the cross-party economic development advisory conference last year have also been implemented to expand the island's business connections with the mainland, he added.