Taiwan

Taiwan leader hails cross-Straits peace

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-19 14:28

TAINAN, Taiwan - Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said on Thursday that his administration has actively improved relations with the Chinese mainland over the past three years and allowed people in Taiwan to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous cross-Straits environment.

Ma made the remarks at a press conference held in the city of Tainan for a three-year review of his inauguration as the leader of Taiwan. Ma said better cross-Straits relations will offer opportunities for the development of future generations on both sides of the Straits.

"Based on the '1992 Consensus', Taiwan authorities have improved cross-Straits relations over the past three years and gradually transformed the Taiwan Strait from a military hotspot into a peaceful thoroughfare," Ma said.

The Chinese mainland's economic emergence has given Taiwan many opportunities, since the world's second-largest economy has transformed from a 'world factory' to a world market, Ma said, adding that implementing a closed-door policy with the mainland would harm Taiwan.