Ma discusses upcoming top-level cross-strait meeting

2015/11/06

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Nov. 5 that his upcoming meeting with mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping will help advance the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait.

“As cross-strait ties have progressed smoothly, the conditions are ripe for the meeting,” the president said. “The milestone event is the first step in normalizing exchanges between leaders from both sides.”

Ma made the remarks during a press conference at the Presidential Office. Scheduled for Nov. 7 in Singapore, the first top-level meeting between the two sides in 66 years will include discussions on a range of topics spanning economic links, peace and Taiwan’s international space, as well as issues concerning the well-being of people on both sides.

Other than the president, Taiwan’s delegation will comprise Mainland Affairs Council Minister Andrew Hsia and Deputy Minister Wu Mei-hung, National Security Council Secretary-General Kao Hua-chu and National Security Advisor Chiu Kun-hsuan, as well as Presidential Office Secretary-General Tseng Yung-chuan and Deputy Secretary-General Hsiao Hsu-tsen.

The president reiterated the government’s stance in maintaining the status quo of no unification, no independence and no use of force under the framework of the ROC Constitution. “At the same time, the government has been promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations on the basis of the 1992 consensus,” he added.

These efforts have seen Taipei and Beijing conclude 23 agreements in a wide variety of areas, creating tremendous dividends and elevating relations to their most stable state in 66 years.

Ma said as Taiwan and mainland China continue to reduce animosity and keep bilateral ties on the right track, both sides also need to expand exchanges and deepen collaboration.

With regards to the selection of the meeting place, the president said Singapore was proposed by Hsia, as the city-state plays a special role in cross-strait relations. “The choice of a third-party destination also shows that bilateral ties are mature.”

Ma said during his meeting with Xi, they will address each other by “mister” instead of their official titles. “This arrangement is made in the spirit of dignity and reciprocity, and reflects the flexible and pragmatic approach from both sides.” It is also in line with the principle of not recognizing each other’s sovereignty while not repudiating their respective jurisdictions, he added.

The president also stressed that the two sides will not issue any joint communique or statement, adding that if invited, he is willing to address the Legislature.

With regards to the public’s reaction, Ma said over 80 percent of the respondents in a recent MAC survey supported a meeting between leaders from the two sides on the condition that it is conducted with dignity, reciprocity and transparency.

“The development will be beneficial to Taiwan, supported by the people and under the supervision of the Legislature, the three preconditions that I have always insisted on for such high-level exchanges,” he added.

Other than ensuring peace and prosperity on both sides, the meeting will also help promote regional stability, the president said, highlighting the predominately positive responses from global media outlets in this regard.

According to MAC, Ma will depart for Singapore Nov. 7. The two leaders will hold a one-hour meeting in the afternoon and then host separate news conferences. Ma will also attend a dinner function with Xi in the evening before flying back to Taiwan later the same day.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=238589&ctNode=2194&mp=9)