Taipei, Sept. 4 (CNA) Republic of China President Chen Shui-bian Tuesday stressed the importance of promoting economic and trade relations with mainland China in the process of normalizing comprehensive relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
He made the remarks while receiving a delegation composed of Chinese community leaders from the southwestern part of the United States. "Normalization of cross-Taiwan Strait relations can be realized only when bilateral economic and trade relations are normalized," Chen noted.
He said that the Economic Development Advisory Conference (EDAC) had recently reached a consensus to replace the "no haste, be patient" policy in dealing with trade and investment with mainland China with a new policy calling for "active opening, effective management."
The president described the EDAC consensus as a good starting point for the normalization of bilateral economic and trade relations as well as comprehensive cross-strait relations.
Chen told the visitors that since his inauguration in May of last year, he has devoted himself to upholding the country's sovereignty, dignity and security and has sought to improve the welfare of the 23 million people in Taiwan in line with the ROC Constitution.
Therefore, he stated that he has ceaselessly reiterated that leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should use their wisdom and creativity to solve the "one China" issue with a method acceptable to both sides, based on democracy and equality.
Chen went on to say that in his "cross-century" statement made on Dec. 31 last year, he mentioned the need for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to build up mutual trust and to work out a new political framework for lasting peace, starting with cooperation in the economic, trade and cultural fields.
He said that the recent consensus on the relaxation of the "no haste, be patient" policy is a big breakthrough in the development of cross-strait relations.
In Tuesday's reception, Chen lauded the overseas Chinese as the "most precious assets" of the ROC. He said that they have made great contributions to the establishment and development of the ROC in the past and support the democratization of Taiwan now.
The president expressed his hope that overseas Chinese will continue to display their traditional spirit of supporting him and the ROC government.