At a meeting with mainland Chinese leader Hu Jintao at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 11, 2011 at the Sheraton Hotel in Hawaii, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Economic Leaders' Meeting, President Ma Ying-jeou's envoy Lien Chan expressed to Hu the view that the “1992 consensus” is an important foundation for the cross-strait peace development. It is also the foundation for reciprocity and prosperity in cross-strait economic interaction as well as for mutual political trust, he said.
Despite differences in interpretations by the authorities of Taiwan and mainland China regarding what “one China” means, said Lien, Taiwan's authorities have never wavered in their efforts to strengthen awareness of common ethnic roots and encourage people to work for the common good.
Lien further expressed the hope that the two sides can act more forcefully to advance the welfare of their people by adopting a more pragmatic mindset in line with the dictum of “shelving controversies, finding commonalities despite differences, facing reality and pioneering a new future.”
Responding to Lien, Hu affirmed the importance of adhering to the 1992 consensus and emphasized three points:
1. It is an objective fact that the 1992 consensus was reached by officially authorized civic organizations.
2. The spirit of the 1992 consensus is to seek common ground while tolerating differences, manifesting the two sides' pragmatic attitudes toward political issues.
3. Affirmation of the 1992 consensus is a necessary precondition for the development of cross-strait dialogue and consultation as well as the foundation for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations. People on either side of the strait should affirm and uphold this consensus for the sake of stability across the Taiwan Strait and their mutual well-being.
In addition, in connection with the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), Lien expressed the view that the two sides should strengthen communication and energetically promote ongoing follow-up negotiations under the ECFA with the aim of expediting further agreements concerning trade in goods and services, investment protection and dispute resolution.
Hu expressed strong agreement with these suggestions as well as optimism that they will be acted upon.
During the meeting, also attended by delegates from Taiwan—including Stephen S.F. Chen, Chang Chang-pang, Lin Ming-cheng, Ho Show-chung, William W. Wong, Jason C.S. Chang, Harace Lin and Chiao Yu-lon—Lien, who is also the honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), conveyed President Ma's greetings to Hu and told him that cross-strait relations have turned a new page since the two met for the first time six years ago in April 2005. Through the concerted efforts of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, he said, the past few years have witnessed flourishing development toward greater political amity, mutually beneficial economic interchange and closer social interaction.
“We are gratified with these positive developments,” Lien said. “The open-mindedness of the leaders on both sides to ‘write a new chapter of history' and their determination to improve cross-strait relations are the main drivers of this progress,” he added.
Lien further said to Hu, “I am deeply appreciative of and have high admiration for you. It is because of your resolve and vision that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have finally been able to break through ideological and institutional barriers and make great strides in cross-strait relations.”
At the end of Lien's “Journey of Peace” to meet with Hu in 2005, they issued a joint statement of their vision for improving cross-strait relations, comprising five points:
1. Promote resumption of cross-strait negotiations as soon as possible with the aim of advancing the well-being of the people on both sides.
2. Promote an end to the state of hostilities and conclude a peace agreement.
3. Promote comprehensive cross-strait economic ties and establish a mechanism for cross-strait economic cooperation.
4. Promote consultations addressing the concerns of people in Taiwan concerning participation in international activities.
5. Establish a platform for regular party-to-party communication.
Lien noted that most of these goals have been realized, with substantive improvement in conditions conducive to cross-strait peace and well-being of the two sides' people. He added that Taiwan and mainland China will continue to communicate on issues that still await resolution, and that it is hoped that the two sides can begin exchanging views on the issue of peace in the near future.
The meeting with Hu this time is Lien's fourth, following those at the APEC summits in Peru, Singapore and Japan in previous years, Lien noted, adding that all of these meetings were fruitful. At the Peru summit, Taiwan and mainland China both acknowledged that cooperation was the only way to help the two sides weather the global financial crisis. In Singapore, the significance of the communication platform between the Chinese Communist Party and the KMT was again affirmed, with both sides emphasizing the importance of launching negotiations on Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. And last year in Yokohama, the two sides reiterated the importance of concluding the economic cooperation accord and express the hope of continuing to exchange views on other topics concerning cross-strait relations. Looking back, said Lien, it is most gratifying that the two sides have achieved so much.
