Top Taiwan economic planner says to meet President Jiang
( 2001-05-14 22:46 ) (7 )

Top Taiwan economic planner to visit the mainland said he would meet President Jiang Zemin on Tuesday.

Chen Po-chih, chairman of Taiwan's Council for Economic Planning and Development, said on Monday he would meet Jiang with a group of delegates to a two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting on personnel.

Jiang would meet delegates to the meeting on Tuesday morning before speaking at the opening ceremony, organisers said.

Chen confirmed he would meet Jiang on Tuesday.

Asked what he would tell the President, Chen said: "APEC is a place to express goodwill and sincerity. We will express to all members the wish to be friends and cooperate."

Mainland welcome last week the visit of Vincent Siew, a former Taiwan Nationalist Party "premier" touting economic integration. Vice Premier Qian Qichen met Siew last Friday for what Siew called "comprehensive" talks.

Chen, who arrived on Sunday, said he had so far not had the opportunity to meet any mainland officials outside of the framework of the APEC meeting.

Chen and his delegation held talks with APEC members on Monday and visited Taiwan companies investing in the mainland.

Chen's agency is responsible for reviewing Taipei's investment policy towards Chinese mainland.

Under current rules, Taiwan firms are barred from investing in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, petrochemicals and infrastructure, with a US$50 million upward limit on each project.

Taiwan's Council for Economic Planning and Development will complete a review of the policy by the end of May and there has been speculation the island would liberalise its stance.