Taiwan eligible to host APEC meeting: Lien

“It should be Taiwan’s right and responsibility to sponsor an APEC annual meeting as an APEC economic entity and full member,” said Lien Chan, who is honorary chairman of the ruling Kuomintang and a former vice president.

Taiwan has never hosted any APEC meeting higher than ministerial-level over the past 17 years since it became a full member of the regional economic grouping in 1991.

Lien said he had not been instructed by Ma to raise the issue of sponsoring ministerial-level or higher APEC meetings during this summit meeting, and added that the host countries of the APEC leaders summits until 2012 have already been finalized.

Noting that Taiwan will probably wait for “a certain period of time” to be offered the chance of hosting the meet, Lien said he believes “we have plenty of time and opportunity to express our will in this regard.”

According to APEC, Singapore will host the 2009 APEC leaders summit, followed by Japan for the 2010 summit, the United States for the 2011 meeting and Russia for 2012.

Meanwhile, Lien said, after exchanging dialogue with several leaders during an APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) discussion held that same day, that he had become aware that world leaders, including U.S. President George W. Bush and President Alan Garcia of host country Peru, fully recognize the recent developments in cross-Taiwan Strait relations and are pleased to see Taiwan and China reconcile and cooperate in an atmosphere of mutual understanding.

APEC is one of the few international organizations that admits both Taiwan and China as members. Due to China’s opposition, however, Taiwan’s president is barred from attending the leadership meeting in person and instead has to name a special envoy to attend on his behalf.

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