TAIPEI: Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou yesterday named a close ally and former "vice president" to represent him at the APEC economic summit, reflecting the continuation of warming ties with the mainland.

Ma has appointed Lien Chan as his representative to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Singapore, November 8, his office said.

Lien, "vice president" in the Kuomintang government from 1996 to 2000 and now honorary chairman of the ruling party, became the most senior envoy ever to represent Taiwan at last year's APEC meeting.

This was seen as a reflection of increasingly cordial relations between Taipei and Beijing, following the election of Ma in May last year.

Lien, in 2005, became the first KMT leader to visit the mainland in 56 years, where, in Beijing, he met President Hu Jintao.

In another development, Taiwan has recalled a delegation that was to have left yesterday morning for informal trade talks in Beijing, after mainland authorities said they needed more time to prepare, a Taiwanese official told AFP.

This marks the latest in a series of delays in the talks, the fourth round since Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou took office last year.

Huang Chih-peng, director of the external trade department and the head of the delegation, said that Beijing informed his office "a couple of days ago they need more time to prepare for the talks. Their schedule is tight."

Last month, Taiwan delayed the informal talks, saying its officials were busy answering budget questions in the Legislative Yuan.

The two sides are trying to find a new time for the talks, which are expected to set a timetable for formal discussions on a long-awaited cross-Straits trade agreement, Huang said.

"Despite the delay, our goal of signing the trade agreement stays the same," Huang said.

Taipei aims for an agreement to be signed early next year, arguing it could lift the island's economic growth by one percentage point.

AFP

(HK Edition 11/03/2009 page2)