Chinese experts to attend seminar on political issues

Yang Yi, spokesman of the Taiwan Affairs Office under China's State Council, said the attendance by scholars, including Zheng Bijian, former vice president of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, will have “positive significance.”

Yang made the remarks at a regular press conference in response to questions on whether the Chinese scholars' presence at the Taiwan seminar could be interpreted as “the beginning of cross Taiwan Strait 'track two' dialogue and a prelude to cross-strait political talks.”

Zheng and the Chinese scholars — experts on Taiwan affairs — are to take part in the Nov. 13-14 seminar sponsored by the Taipei-based Pacific Cultural Foundation (PCF) to exchange views with their Taiwanese counterparts on issues related to cross-strait relations — including political issues — although no information was forthcoming on exactly what kind of political issues would be under discussion.

Political issues have so far remained taboo in cross-strait discussions, although negotiators from both sides have reached nine agreements aimed at increasing cross-strait trade and economic exchanges since President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated in May last year.

Responding to a question on whether, after a proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) is inked, Taiwan and China will be able to enter political dialogue paving the way for signing a peace agreement between them in 2012, Yang pointed out that “it (the timetable) is just speculation.”

Taiwan and China are expected to sign the ECFA — a cross-strait version of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) — next year.

“Under the 'one China' principle, we have repeatedly called for talks to end the cross-strait hostilities, reach a peace agreement and establish a framework for the peaceful development of bilateral relations,” Yang said.

He said that cross-strait talks on economic issues have been taking place based on the principles of “economy ahead of politics, the easy ones ahead of the difficult ones, and step by step” over the past approximately 18 months.

Yang said that while cultural and educational topics will soon be included on the agenda of future cross-strait talks, Beijing has proposed that both sides should make greater efforts “to create a favorable climate to solve the sensitive and complicated problems between them.”

He also said that China is already fully ready to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on financial cooperation with Taiwan.

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