news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4507681.stm
Printable version China offers Taiwan giant pandas giant pandas (file picture) China has often given visiting dignitaries giant pandas China has announced a series of goodwill gestures towards Taiwan, includi ng the gift of two giant pandas. Pandas are considered China's ultimate diplomatic gesture, though it is n ot clear if Taiwan will accept the offer. China is also preparing to lift a ban on its tourists visiting the island and to ease restrictions on some agricultural products. The offer came on the final day of an historic visit to the mainland by T aiwanese opposition leader, Lien Chan. Mr Lien is the first Nationalist leader to make the trip since the party was driven off the Chinese mainland in 1949 by the Communist Party follo wing the Chinese civil war.
Prospects lifted by visit On his departure for Taipei from Shanghai on Tuesday, he said his visit h ad gone "smoothly and successfully". "Wherever we went, we were welcomed by citizens who came voluntarily to s how their friendship," Mr Lien said before boarding the plane. "This is the most precious experience for us to remember for every member of the delegation." During the Cold War, China used to make a habit of sending important dign itaries away with pandas, but most exports are now loaned rather than do nated. Taiwan's Nationalist Party Chairman Lien Chan gestures as he speaks to Ta iwanese businessmen in Shanghai, China, Monday, May 2, 2005. Lien Chan was treated like a head of state during his visit Taiwan's top China policymaker Joseph Wu says Taipei wouldn't accept the pandas if Beijing was attempting to downgrade the island's sovereign sta tus as part of the gift. He said the two sides had discussed sending pandas to Taiwan 10 times sin ce 1992, but the island had been unable to provide a suitable environmen t for the endangered species. Mainland analysts say political obstacles rather than technical problems are preventing Taiwan from accepting the pandas.
Have Your Say "We hope the pandas, with their tame nature, air of nobleness and cuddly looks will bring joy and laughter to the Taiwan compatriots, children in particular," he said. He added China would exempt more than 10 types of fruit from import tarif fs levied on Taiwan, while increasing the number of types it allows in f rom the island from 12 to 18. Beijing is also preparing to lift restrictions on mainland Chinese visiti ng Taiwan as tourists. Mixed reactions Both Mr Lien and President Chen Shui-bian have made repeated calls for di rect talks between the Taipei and Beijing governments, and on Tuesday Mr Chen called on China's leader Hu Jintao to visit the island. But China has so far refused to negotiate with the Taiwanese president un til he signs up to Beijing's so-called one-China policy - acknowledging that Taiwan is part of China. Mr Lien's trip marked the first time leade rs from Taiwan's Nationalist Party and China's Communist Party had met s ince the Nationalists lost the civil war and fled to Taiwan in 1949. He was treated like a head of state during his visit, with lavish recepti ons everywhere he went, a sign that Beijing was happy with the momentum created by his visit.
|
http://csua.com/feed/