Former Taiwan premier Frank Hsieh concludes five-day mainland tour
Frank Hsieh boosts his credentials by visiting some of the key players in cross-strait affairs
Former Taiwanese premier Frank Hsieh Chang-ting will today wrap up a five-day mainland visit that included meetings with State Councillor Dai Bingguo and other senior officials.
As the highest-ranking politician from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party to visit the mainland, Hsieh met Dai - the most prominent mainland official he has met so far - in Beijing yesterday.
Hsieh's visit has not only raised his personal political connections with senior mainland officials, but has also enabled him able to take the lead in cross-strait issues within Taiwan's pro-independence camp.
Although Hsieh failed to secure a meeting with the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Jia Qinglin , who ranks fourth in seniority in the Communist Party, the meeting with Dai, who holds a prominent position in terms of cross-strait and other foreign affairs, can still be seen a victory for Hsieh.
Last night, Hsieh also met Chen Yunlin, Beijing's top negotiator with Taiwan. The two reportedly exchanged views on issues concerning breakthroughs in cross-strait ties.
Relations between Taiwan and the mainland have improved since President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang took office in 2008 and adopted a policy of engaging Beijing.