President Tsai Ing-wen said Oct. 26 that a breakthrough in cross-strait relations should be made so as to cement long-term peace and prosperity for the benefit of the people of Taiwan and mainland China.
Since taking office in May last year, Tsai said she has ensured the government extended maximum goodwill and safeguarded the stable development of cross-strait ties. This commitment will not change, nor will there be a return to the old path of confrontation or a yielding to pressure, she added.
The president made the comments at a forum in Taipei City marking the 30th anniversary of the opening of cross-strait exchanges. Organized by the Mainland Affairs Council, the one-day event was attended by senior government officials and representatives of local foundations and think tanks.
According to Tsai, following the government’s decision to lift the ban on Republic of China (Taiwan) nationals visiting mainland China in 1987, people-to-people exchanges created opportunities for facilitating mutual understanding in such areas as academia, culture and economy.
To date, more than 2.4 million visits to Taiwan have been made by people on the other side of the strait, underscoring the value of communication in transforming the cross-strait relationship from one defined by hostility to peace, she added.
In building on this foundation, the president said the ruling parties of Taiwan and mainland China should drop historical baggage and expand dialogue. This would lead to enhanced mutual understanding, trust and the better management of various challenges and issues in cross-strait ties, she added.
According to Tsai, this approach also benefits the international community as regional peace and security are key factors impacting the development of countries and territories and the well-being of their peoples. Taiwan and mainland China have an obligation to adopt new modes of thinking and cross-strait interaction for the benefit of all, she said. (CPY-E)
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