Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Monday that he is willing to share political power and resources with other political parties on the basis of mutual respect, to promote political stability, national identity and democratic reform.
Chen said at the inauguration of former President Lee Teng-hui's think tank "Taiwan Advocates" that his own proposal to establish a "national stabilization alliance" was also meant to help the country rebound economically and achieve a breakthrough in Taipei-Beijing relations.
Calling for an end to partisan confrontation and a beginning to cooperation now that the legislative, county chief and mayoral elections have ended, Chen said he expects the members of Lee's new think tank to channel public opinion and contribute to the sovereignty and living standards of the people of Taiwan in a "supra-partisan and supra-ethnic spirit."
He added that in a mature democracy, policies should not originate only in government organizations or in the government organ that represents public opinion -- the Legislative Yuan -- but also through the work of groups in society that are concerned with social issues.