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Wu Den-yih meets with
Li Keqiang at Boao Forum
HARD WORK: The head of the Taiwanese delegation,
Fredrick Chien, said when Wu and Li met, it seemed like they were working on
solutions for cross-strait problems
By Peng Hsien-chun / Staff reporter, in HAINAN, CHINA
Vice president-elect Wu Den-yih,
center, and China’s Taiwan Affairs Office Minister Wang Yi, second left, enter
an outdoor meeting venue at the Boao Asia Forum in Hainan, China, yesterday.
Photo: Peng Hsien-chun, Taipei Times
Vice president-elect Wu Den-yih (吳敦義)
yesterday met Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang (李克強) at the Boao Asia Forum in
Hainan, China, where the pair reportedly agreed on the need to address a variety
of cross-strait issues.
Wu, who is accompanying a delegation of about 60 officials, is attending the
forum in the capacity as the highest consultant for the Cross-Straits Common
Market Foundation.
During their meeting, Wu and Li are said to have agreed on the need to establish
a mechanism for the control and oversight of insurance and bonds. The two
reportedly also agreed to complete in the first half of this year an accord on
cross-strait insurance policies, as well as begin negotiations on a cross-strait
currency clearing accord.
Sources said Li agreed to increased imports of Taiwanese agricultural and fish
products to China. Li added that Chinese investments in Taiwan were not for the
sole benefit of Taiwanese markets, but were for the mutual benefit of both sides
of the Taiwan Strait.
Through the expansion of the Chinese market, Taiwan will be able to expand into
international markets, Li said.
“We will also [endeavor] to find a solution for equal negotiations [between
Taiwan and China] regarding Taiwan’s international space,” he said.
Meanwhile, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) Director Wang Yi (王毅) hosted an
outdoor banquet for the Taiwanese delegation after the Wu-Li meeting.
Wang began the banquet by welcoming Wu, saying: “The South China Sea and China
welcome you all, especially Mr Wu Den-yih, who will soon be assuming more
important responsibilities.”
Wang also said economic cooperation was still the priority for cross-strait
relations this year.
Cross-strait relations are taking a new, multi-directional development and we
must also think hard about how to maximize benefits for citizens across the
Strait, Wang said, adding that the two sides would start “seeing more
difficulties” when working together on deepening economic cooperation.
“I think that an important and essential focal point for resolving any problems
is maintaining, as well as fortifying, mutual political trust,” Wang said. “By
so doing, we can promote smoother cross-strait economic cooperation, and as we
continue to solve economic problems, it will provide a more solid guarantee of
further developments in cross-strait relations.”
The Boao Forum has not only provided a chance for interaction for businesspeople
from both sides of the Strait, it has also become the most important platform of
dialogue between high-ranking cross-strait administrators, Wang said.
While Wu did not make any public comments during the banquet, the head of the
Taiwanese delegation, former foreign minister Fredrick Chien (錢復), praised Wang,
saying he had “contributed the most” toward promoting cross-strait relations.
It is “very good to have you [Wang]” as the director of the TAO, Chien said.
Regarding the Wu-Li meeting, Chien said: “Despite the fact that this was the
first time both men met, it was more like they were meeting again after having
been separated for a long time. They were so sincere in their conversation and
their deep insights into the issues, it just gave the feeling that they were
truly thinking of solutions to cross-strait issues. I felt very honored to have
been able to observe the meeting.”
Most of the Taiwanese delegation attended the banquet, including Cross-Straits
Common Market Foundation chairman Chan Huo-sheng (詹火生), as well as Taiwan Stock
Exchange Corp chairman Schive Chi (薛琦).
On the Chinese side, in addition to Wang, former China Banking Regulatory
Commission chairman Liu Mingkang (劉明康), Central Huijin Investment Co chairperson
Lee Jiange (李劍閣) and Cosco Group chairman Ma Zehua (馬澤華) were among those who
attended the banquet.
Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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