Nation hails EU stance on Taiwan

By GUO NEI (1)
Updated: 2003-04-12 09:10

China appreciates the position of the European Council and the European Commission on sticking to the one-China policy and not developing official relations with Taiwan.

The central government has worked hard to promote personnel, economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, said Chen Yunlin, director of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

All these efforts have accelerated momentum for the introduction of the three "direct links" and enhanced cross-Straits relations, Chen said at a meeting with Chris Patten, European commissioner in charge of external relations, in Brussels on Thursday. Patten is familiar with China as he was the last governor of Hong Kong before the territory was handed over to China from Britain in 1997.

Relations between China and European Union (EU) are mature, said Patten. At the same time, great potential exists in bilateral relations because China is developing quickly.

The EU realizes the importance that properly handling the Taiwan question has on Sino-EU relations and fully understands the Chinese Government's position and policy on resolving the Taiwan question, the commissioner said.

The European Union, whose one-China policy is explicit, will not change its stance on the Taiwan question and hopes both sides of the Taiwan Straits will strengthen co-operation and exchanges as well as resolve disputes through negotiations, he said.

Before the meeting, the delegation, headed by Chen, held symposia with local overseas Chinese on the reunification of the motherland and promotion of cross-Straits relations in Paris and Brussels, reports said.