Taipei, Aug. 29 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his desire Wednesday to personally attend this year's informal leadership meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic cooperation (APEC) forum to be held in Shanghai in late October.
Chen expressed his desire during a meeting with two visiting U.S. congressmen--Rep. Joseph M. Hoeffel and Rep. Peter King.
Noting that the annual APEC informal leadership meeting could be a "window on opportunity," Chen said it could provide a good setting for the top leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to sit don to talk. "I earnestly hopes to attend the meeting in person," Chen said, adding that the Republic of China should enjoy the same rights and should fulfill the same obligations as other APEC members based on the principles of equality.
Chen further said that as a member of the international community and the Global Village, the ROC should be given the opportunity to fulfill its obligations and duties.
During his talks with the American lawmakers, Chen also said that the just-concluded Economic Development Advisory Conference was the first cross-party conference on national affairs since he assumed office in the ROC's historic transition of power between different political parties in May 2000. "The Aug. 24-26 conference has managed to reached 322 'consensus proposals' on Taiwan's future economic development and financial reform," Chen said, adding that he was satisfied with the results of the meeting.
Chen told his guests that the meeting has reached consensus on adjusting Taiwan's policies on trade and investment in mainland China. "The meeting marks an important watershed in our national economic development and trade ties with mainland China," he stressed.
Chen said he is convinced that the conference will contribute to the upgrading of Taiwan's industrial development, financial reform, job market and cross-strait relations. "My administration is now working on concrete measures to implement proposals reached at the conference," he added.