Taiwan's Ma, in National Day Speech, Vows to Deepen Exchanges With China
Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou pledged to deepen economic and cultural exchanges with China in an address to mark the island’s National Day.
“We handle relations with the mainland based on pragmatic policies,” Ma told a crowd gathered in the square in front of his office today. “We’ll also continue to strengthen deep exchanges with the mainland in economical, cultural, social and various aspects.” His speech was broadcast on local television channels.
Ma’s government, elected in March 2008 on a platform to forge closer ties with China, has signed 14 agreements with the mainland, easing curbs on investment, trade and transportation links. China claims Taiwan to be part of its territory and has more than 1,000 missiles pointing at the island.
“Both Taiwan and China are parts of the Chinese people,” Ma said today. “The two sides should expand cooperation in the international society and avoid confrontation.”
Taiwan and China signed an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement on June 29, aimed reducing tariffs on cross-strait trade and widening access to each other’s markets. China is the island’s biggest trading partner and No. 1 overseas investment destination
Taiwan’s National Day celebrates the 1911 overthrow of China’s last emperor by the Nationalists, later the Kuomintang, who fled to Taiwan in 1949 after being defeated in a civil war with Mao Zedong’s Communists.
To contact the reporter on this story: Yu-Huay Sun in Taipei at ysun7@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Paul Tighe at ptighe@bloomberg.net
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