A visit to Taiwan last week by mainland China's top official on cross-strait affairs has brought the two sides to a better understanding of each other, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today after hearing the Mainland Affairs Council's (MAC) report on the trip.
Zhang Zhijun, director of the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office, met with MAC Minister Wang Yu-chi in Taipei on June 25 and heard a clear elaboration on the ROC government's policy on mainland China, the premier said.
Premier Jiang requested the MAC to continue interactions with the mainland side and follow up on the talks between Wang and Zhang. The MAC should also step up communication with Taiwan's public to help it understand the outcomes of these visits and to build wider domestic and international support for development in cross-strait relations.
Director Zhang's trip around Taiwan is conducive to the mainland's grip of how cross-strait developments are viewed by the people and government of Taiwan, noted the premier. Although Zhang met with some protests, the MAC, National Security Bureau, National Police Agency and local governments have all done their best in arranging events and maintaining security. Jiang expressed hope that citizens wishing to voice their opinions would do so in a democratic, rational and peaceful manner—behavior expected of people living in a free and democratic country.
This round of mutual visits by the two top cross-strait officials marked a significant milestone as the two sides achieved understanding and made preliminary commitments on such issues as allowing humanitarian visits to detained nationals and permitting mainland travelers to transit through Taiwan, said the premier. He hopes people from all sectors of society can recognize the historic nature and significance of these visits in a positive light.
According to the MAC, Zhang's visit follows Minister Wang's trip to mainland China this past February, when the two offices agreed to open routine communications channels and set up a system of regular visits. These measures aim to promote exchanges between the top two chiefs on cross-strait affairs, build positive ties, normalize official interactions, and give the mainland a better understanding of Taiwan's diverse society.
The pair met again in Taiwan this time, with Wang reiterating that Taiwan's future should be decided by its 23 million people under the framework of the ROC Constitution, and asking the mainland to respect that choice. The two sides also agreed to open talks on allowing mainland tourists to transit in Taiwan, and to include humanitarian visits into the scope of services expected of the reciprocal representative offices when they are set up. And once the cross-strait services trade pact takes effect, the sides should begin ensuing consultations as per regulations and quickly launch talks on the merchandise trade agreement and other follow-up accords to the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.
The MAC will continue to urge mainland China to respect Taiwan's public opinion and recognize the reality that the two sides are under separate governance. The council will also step up communications in Taiwan and abroad to strengthen the foundations for institutionalizing official interactions between the two sides.