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Kaohsiung mayor brings 'new voice'

(CFP)
Updated: 2009-05-22 08:23

Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (left) delivers an invitation to Beijing Mayor Guo Jinlong Thursday to the World Games 2009 in Kaohsiung. Her four-day trip will also take her to Shanghai. [CFP]

Taiwan-based China Times said that the visit signals new momentum in cross-Straits communication.

"It proves that the cross-Straits relationship is now on a good track ... with political figures across the Straits now being able to find a suitable platform for communication," said the report.

Zhang Guanhua, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' institute of Taiwan studies, said Chen's visit is driven by pragmatism.

Although the DPP opposes the ruling KMT's positive mainland policy which targets more exchanges and cooperation, more and more its members cannot ignore the practical benefits of warmer cross-Straits ties, Zhang said.

"Obviously, Chen's mainland visit is aimed at stimulating her city's economy," Zhang said.

In the first cross-Straits forum which ended Thursday in Fujian province, all Taiwan counties and cities ruled by the DPP had sent delegations, despite party chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen's call for a boycott.

But, Zhang said: "Since the DPP is still preaching 'Taiwan independence', and as long as it does not give up secessionist moves, there is no possibility that the mainland will have political discussions with the party."

The island's United Evening News carried a commentary Thursday, saying Chen's visit would have a significant influence on the opposition party's mainland policy. It signals Chen is highly aware of the impact that the mainland has on the island, and is apt to understand the huge opportunities that the mainland is offering, said the commentary.

"The move cannot be translated into a brand new mainland policy by the DPP, but it signals that the DPP is now ... more pragmatic."

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