Su returns from the United States as The Democratic Progressive Party's new VP hopeful

He made the remarks at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport upon his return from the United States to a warm welcome by DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh and supporters.

It was the first public meeting of the pair since Hsieh formally named Su as his running mate Aug. 15, which ended months of speculation over whether the DPP would be able to field the strongest possible ticket for the March 2008 race.

"I had never expected the contents would be like this until I turned to this page of my life," Su commented on his vice presidential candidacy.

The former premier said he has always hoped that the DPP will unite to win the election since he lost to Hsieh in the DPP presidential primary in May.

Su later resigned and left for the United States for what he called "a learning trip." Before leaving, Su had said he would not be asking for any posts from Hsieh.

But he said at the airport that he accepted the candidacy after receiving many telephone calls and text messages from Hsieh and "many of his good friends," who expressed the wishes that he take "the difficult task."

Su promised that he will do his best to help Hsieh and the DPP to victory in the presidential and legislative elections.

Hsieh, accompanied by campaign aides, DPP officials and lawmakers, Hsieh remarked that Su returned home at a time when "Taiwanese people need him the most."

Hsieh said they will not just participate in the election campaign but will also take part in relief efforts following Typhoon Sepat.

Su's return came at the height of Typhoon Sepat, which was ravaging Taiwan with strong wind and heavy rain.

President Chen Shui-bian will meet with Hsieh and Su at the Presidential Office Monday, a source from the Presidential Office was cited by the Central News Agency as saying.

Yeh Chu-lan, who has been named by Chen as the presidential secretary-general, is also expected to be present at the meeting, the source said.

Yeh, who is believed to have been Hsieh's number one choice for his running mate for the 2008 election, has confirmed that she has accepted the candidate's invitation to serve as his campaign manager.

Yeh, a former vice premier, is slated to be sworn in at the Presidential Office one hour before she accompanies Chen to meet with Hsieh and Su, according to the source.

Meanwhile, Hsieh reiterated his opposition to Kuomintang presidential contender Ma Ying-jeou's idea of forming a Taiwan-China common market.

He said such a common market would allow cheap agricultural products, substandard goods and cheap labor from China to flood the Taiwan market.

But he expressed support for further expanding tourist exchanges and chartered flights between Taiwan and China.

He said Taiwan can expand chartered cross-strait flights that operate during holidays and festivals such as Chinese New Year.

Chinese tourists should be allowed to visit Taiwan and Chinese investors to buy real estate here, Hsieh said.

He said that while pursuing economic development, Taiwan should at the same time make efforts to make the people happy.

He said that Taiwan's economic problems are mostly caused by political disputes.

If elected president, Hsieh said he will first try to settle the conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties before making efforts to seek a majority in the legislature to facilitate the administration's operations.

Predicting an outflow of investment from China in five years due to the appreciation of the Chinese currency and increasing labor costs there, Hsieh said such an outflow would be a good chance for Taiwan to attract funds from China.

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