Lien, who is presently honorary chairman of the ruling Kuomintang, said this is an assignment of great responsibility and he will strive to accomplish the mission.

He said he will exchange views with leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen cooperation and jointly overcome ongoing dramatic changes in the global economic and financial system.

Lien's statement was in response to the Presidential Office's formal announcement that he would be attending the summit conference on behalf of President Ma.

Lien would be the highest-ranking representative of the Republic of China ever to attend an APEC leaders summit.

Lien, 72, who earned a Ph.D in political science from the University of Chicago, has held several key government posts, including minister of transportation and communications, minister of foreign affairs and premier.

He served as the Republic of China's vice president between 1996 and 2000 and chairman of the now ruling KMT in 2000-2005.

Lien's participation in the APEC summit, to be held in Lima, Peru Nov. 22-23, will be seen by many as a symbol of progress in Taiwan's relations with China, following Ma's inauguration on May 20.

Ma has adopted a policy of "diplomatic detente" to ease tensions across the Taiwan Strait, although critics have contended that his overture will not reverse China's efforts to prevent Taiwan from participating in substantive activities in the international community.

It was Lien who paved the way for improved relations between Taipei and Beijing. He made a historic trip to mainland China as honorary KMT chairman to meet with Beijing leaders to formally declare an end to the civil war between the KMT and Chinese Communist Party.

Lien's efforts helped to significantly reduce the tensions in the Pacific region.

Because of Beijing's strong opposition on grounds of sovereignty, ROC presidents have been unable to attend the APEC leaders summit meeting since the country became a member of the regional grouping in 1991 under the title "Chinese Taipei."

Ma made it clear in an exclusive interview with the Central News Agency (CNA) last week that "we will do whatever we can to raise the level of our representation at the APEC leadership summit."

Taiwan was represented at the first APEC leaders summit, held in Seattle in 1993, by Vincent Siew in his then capacity as chairman of government's Council for Economic Planning and Development. Siew is now vice president.

In 2001, then President Chen Shui-bian proposed to send former Vice President Li Yuan-zu to attend the APEC leaders summit in Shanghai. Taiwan boycotted that gathering after Chen's proposal was rejected.

Taiwan was mostly represented by prominent business and industry leaders in the last two APEC forums -- by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Chairman Morris Chang and Acer Group Chairman Stan Shih, respectively.