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Hsieh wraps up
cross-strait forum in HK
PROPER CONDUCT: The former premier said that
despite the importance of bilateral exchanges, it was important for the DPP and
the CCP to keep an ¡¥appropriate¡¦ distance
By Chris Wang / Staff reporter
Former premier Frank Hsieh (Áªø§Ê) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)
yesterday closed a forum on cross-strait relations in Hong Kong by saying that
mutual trust was important between the DPP and Beijing and that all bilateral
exchanges should benefit the public and address their needs.
In his closing remarks to the two-day forum titled ¡§Development and innovation
of cross-strait relations,¡¨ Hsieh reiterated the importance of rebalancing
cross-strait interactions, which have been narrowed down to interactions between
the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
Citing the recently signed cross-strait service trade pact that has drawn heavy
criticism in Taiwan, Hsieh said it was a perfect example of how imbalanced
interaction could harm bilateral engagement.
While Beijing said it had given Taiwan WTO-plus treatment in the pact,
opposition to the agreement and public fear over the ¡§Chinese economic invasion¡¨
remained strong because the communication channel has been limited to the KMT
and the CCP and Taiwan¡¦s government had failed to make the negotiation process
transparent, Hsieh said.
However, Hsieh, who represents the DPP¡¦s moderate wing, which has been
attempting to foster closer engagement across the Taiwan Strait, said that it is
also imperative for the DPP and the CCP to keep an ¡§appropriate¡¨ distance
because of the lack of mutual trust at present.
He also highlighted his ¡§two sides, two Constitutions¡¨ initiative, saying that
Taiwan and China could coexist if both respected each other¡¦s constitutional
legitimacy.
Hsieh echoed Chinese President Xi Jinping¡¦s (²ßªñ¥) idea of an ¡§Asian community of
destiny.¡¨
¡§We may not share the same history, but we could have a common destiny and
future,¡¨ he said.
Academics from both sides of the Strait, as well as nine DPP lawmakers, attended
the two-day forum, which was organized by Hsieh¡¦s Taiwan Reform Foundation and
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences¡¦ Institute of Taiwan Studies ¡X the first
time a DPP-affiliated organization has organized an event in cooperation with a
state-sponsored Chinese think tank.
Hsieh is set to visit Taiwanese businesspeople in Shenzhen, China, today before
returning to Taiwan tomorrow.
Commenting on the forum, DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin (»¯¤ÑÅï) said the seminar
attracted individuals from the Chinese government and academia and the seniority
of the Chinese officials attending the event showed that Beijing attached great
importance to it.
Although there were heated discussions between Chinese and Taiwanese delegates,
the event provided a chance for the DPP and Beijing to better understand each
other, Chao said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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