Top mainland official Zhang Zhijun meets key member of Taiwan's opposition DPP
Visit by Taiwan Affairs Office director's to Kaohsiung's pro-independence mayor seen as sign of a more flexible approach by Beijing
Zhang Zhijun, director of the mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office, yesterday held a groundbreaking meeting with Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu from the island's main opposition Democratic Progressive Party.
The first official meeting in Taiwan between the senior mainland official and a member of the pro-independence party signals Beijing is taking a more flexible approach to dealing with the DPP. They agreed more exchanges could help bridge differences.
"We understand that people in Taiwan greatly treasure the social system, value and lifestyle they have chosen and we respect their choices," Zhang said after meeting Chen. He said it was not easy for the former rivals to develop warm relations after a long time of sour ties, but to maintain their now improving ties, the mainland was willing to respect different opinions in Taiwan.
Zhang said that his four-day visit, which ends today, had given him an opportunity to meet local people, especially in southern Taiwan, which would help him understand their views.
He also called for more exchanges - including with members of opposition parties sides - in remarks observers said reflected Beijing's new flexibility in dealing with the DPP. Beijing was previously highly critical of the DPP's pro-independence stance.
Chen later said she told Zhang that he must have heard a number of different opinions or even encountered certain protests since his arrival on Wednesday.