Taiwan Parliament VP praises Macau’s role

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U (L) met yesterday with Taiwan Parliament vice president Tseng Yung-Chuan

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Cheong U had a meeting yesterday with the vice president of the Legislative Yuan (Parliament) of Taiwan Tseng Yung-Chuan, the first stop he made after leaving Macau ahead of a delegation of 100 people.
During the meeting, Tseng Yung-Chuan said he was very pleased to welcome the SAR’s entourage, praising Macau for its role in improving the ties between mainland China and Taiwan. Tseng even said that Macau has done more than Hong Kong as a bridge between both sides of the Strait, Portuguese language Rádio Macau reported.
Tseng, who is also vice chairman of the Kuomintang, stated that currently there are about 20,000 people of Macau working in Taiwan, adding there are now closer exchanges between the two territories, according to a press note released late yesterday by the Government Information Bureau.
Aside all the flights between Macau and Taiwan, Tseng suggested direct flights from the MSAR to Taichung, in the centre of the island, saying it would also benefit both sides.
Cheong U said he hopes the visit can lead to greater understanding and to enhance joint relations and exchanges between Macau and Taiwan, mainly in Tourism, Culture, Health and Education and Creative Industries.

MSAR to act as a bridge

The role of the SAR for the improvement of ties between mainland China and Taiwan will remain as it was before once the first visit to Taipei of one of Macau’s top-officials comes to an end, director-general of the Taiwan Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR, Cheng Jinzhong, told reporters yesterday.
“I think Macau will continue to have the same role, that is to act as a bridge [between the Mainland and Taiwan]. Macau’s role is fundamentally that. In the future, it could develop as a promoter of the relations between both sides of the Strait,” he stressed.
Cheng was speaking at the Macau International Airport before the departure to Taipei.
On Wednesday, in an interview for the Macau Daily Times director-general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in MSAR Lo Muh Kuen said that the visit is “just the beginning” of improved diplomatic relations between Macau and Taiwan.
However, yesterday Cheng Jinzhong stressed that the visit has no political goals. “It aims to deepen understanding and strengthen the cooperation. There are no political objectives. The main scope is related to culture and economy,” he assured.
In addition, before his departure, secretary Cheong U emphasised that the visit aims to put in motion the guidelines of the 2010 Policy Address. “Macau will address all its efforts to strengthen the joint cooperation with Taiwan,” he said.
Cheong revealed that he would have meetings with some Taiwanese officials, amongst them representatives of the Mainland Affairs Council. Yet, he stressed that politics would not be discussed during the meetings.
“I will have meetings with Taiwan officials regarding issues related to tourism, health, cultural industries and so on,” he said.
The top-official also said that the establishment of a Macau representative office in Taiwan, announced last year, is off the agenda. However, a week ago, during a visit to Taipei of the head of the Chief Executive Office Alexis Tam, the vice president of the Taiwanese Mainland Affairs Council, Kao Charng, and the chairman of the quasi-official Strait Exchange Foundation, Chiang Pin-kung, gave their support to the project.
Cheong explained that the new office would give assistance to Macau residents and students in Taiwan. Though, its creation timeframe remains unknown.
Aside the meeting yesterday, during the visit, which concludes on Monday, Cheong will also attend the opening of a Macau Week promotion event.
Tourism, Culture, Health and Education are the main topics of the visit, but there are no details on the specific goals. The official revealed that the Macau Week promotion event, running from today until September 10, would display the local culture and tourisms attractions, in order to “attract more tourists from Taiwan”.