Vice President Lu and Assembly Participants:
I am pleased to learn that the 2001 Global Peace Assembly is taking place in the Grand Hotel, Taipei. This assembly brings together renowned freedom fighters and peace lovers from around the world to promote peace in the Taiwan Strait and in the world as well. I would like to extend my hearty congratulations to all of you.
In the 20th century, humanity experienced two world wars and numerous regional and civil wars of different scales, suffering bitter remorse and tremendous calamity. Peace has thus become a common goal and universal value pursued by human beings. History shows us that war induces nothing but causalities and harms, and that only love and respect can bring about peace. Therefore, humanity should learn the lesson and commit itself to eliminating war and making peace. Although the Cold War has become part of history, as has the 20th century, there still exists in the world today latent crises that may bring about regional conflicts and civil wars. Enormous differences and the absence of effective communication between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have become unstable factors affecting regional peace and world security. In pursuit of cross-strait reconciliation and peace, my administration has, since its inauguration, constantly shown our goodwill to promote cross-strait exchange and interaction. We hope that Beijing will respond to our goodwill and resume cross-strait dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, in order to forge a cooperative relationship of mutual trust and reciprocity between the two sides, and thereby set a solid foundation for everlasting cross-strait peace.
This conference is sponsored by the Taiwan Alliance for Global Peace, and will discuss the theme “Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait.” It carries immense significance in creating a platform for Taiwan to appeal for love and peace. I am confident that through dialogue and exchanges of experience, you will develop concrete proposals that will bring meaningful contributions to world peace and human well-being.
On this auspicious occasion, I wish the event great success and each of you good health and happiness.