A majority of academics taking part in a monthly consultation meeting at the Mainland Affairs Council gave a thumbs up to the main thrust of the government's cross-strait policy of using economic issues to help build a peaceful and stable relationship.
"Recent cross-strait interaction has shown that the Chinese authorities are more realistic than they were before. Economic interests are a big concern for them. This suggests that economic issues would be the best starting point for the establishment of a peaceful and stable framework across the Taiwan Strait," said Jan Jyh-horng (詹志宏), director of the council's Department of Planning and Research, summarizing the consensus of the meeting for reporters afterwards.
President Chen Shui-bian (
"I wish to make an earnest call for both sides to strive toward building a framework of interaction for peace and stability at this stage of cross-strait development," Chen said.
"Let us begin by creating a common niche for economic development, consultation and promotion of direct transportation links as well as exchanges on other relevant economic issues," he said.
Jan said the meeting's participants agreed that economic interaction was a good starting point, since China saw the advantages to itself of cross-strait trade. The participants also agreed, he said, on the need to push for more cross-strait cultural exchanges, but also had made a wide range of suggestions.
One academic, he said, had suggested a forum for college presidents to exchange opinions.
"Chinese authorities are conservative about allowing their college students to participate in cross-strait exchange activities. A forum for college presidents might be an option," Jan said.
Another academic suggested that Taiwan familiarize itself with some 20 or 30 of China's fast-growing provincial cities, instead of focusing on Beijing and Shanghai.
"Commercial experience in these growing provincial cities would provide valuable information about China," Jan quoted the academic as saying.
He said a number of the academics had noted that, "Tai-wanese working for foreign companies in China are familiar with Chinese regulations and customs and China's economic situation. Government agencies should interact with such people to improve their knowledge of China."
The council holds the monthly meeting to obtain expert comment and information on developments in China.
In related news, DPP Legislator Chen Chung-hsin (
Although Chen Chung-hsin has kept a low profile since his arrival in Beijing on Sunday, his visit has aroused great interest. This is his first trip to China since becoming head of the DPP's Department of Chinese Affairs last July.
Observers are keen to see if his visit signifies a warming in the stalled cross-strait relations.
The lawmaker has denied that he would act as a secret envoy for the president or carry any messages from him to Beijing authorities. Beijing said that Chen was visiting as a scholar.
Chen is traveling with a delegation headed by Yang Kai-huang (
In Beijing, the delegation visited several think tanks and met with Wang Zaixi (
Meanwhile, Zhou Mingwei (
He said cross-strait exchanges among senior members of the media are close.
He said Taiwanese journalists made 1,375 visits to China last year, while Chinese journalists made 119 visits to Taiwan to cover news and 450 for exchanges.
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