Koo-Wang Meeting
- 更新日期：109-08-03
I. Background
The Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) held the Koo-Wang Talks in Singapore in April 1993. The two sides signed four agreements at that time to establish a systematic communication and negotiation channel. Three years ago, the mainland side broke off negotiations under certain pretexts and refused to implement the agreements. This delayed the Second Koo-Wang Talks originally scheduled for mid-July of 1995. The lack of official contact channels also made it impossible to maintain stable relations. After sustained efforts by the Taiwan side, the deputy secretaries-general and vice chairmen of the SEF and ARATS met three times for discussions in April, July and September and finally decided on a specific itinerary for an SEF mission visit to the mainland. With authorization from the Mainland Affairs Council, the mission departed for the mainland on October 14, 1998, and returned to Taiwan on the evening of October 19.
II. Itinerary
| Date | Time | Itinerary |
|---|---|---|
October 14 , 1998(Wednesday) | Morning | Departure for Hong Kong at 9:00 a.m. and arrival at 10:45 a.m. |
| Mid-noon | Wait for transfer flight at Hong Kong Airport | |
| Afternoon | 1. Flight to Shanghai (departure at 1:20 p.m.; arrival at Hongqiao Airport at 3:25 p.m.; press conference at press center) 2. Full delegation meeting with Mr. Wang Daohan (Peace Hotel) | |
| Evening | Full delegation attends a banquet held by Mr. Wang Daohan (Peace Hotel). | |
October 15 | Morning | Visits to the Pudong New Area, Shanghai Stock Exchange, and Oriental Pearl TV Tower |
| Mid-noon | Meeting with Taiwan businesspeople (Intercontinental Hotel) | |
| Afternoon | 1. Visit to the Shanghai Museum 2. Meeting with Mr. Wang Daohan (New Jin Jiang Hotel; seven SEF delegates) | |
| Evening | 1. SEF-hosted banquet (Portman Ritz Carlton) 2. Beijing Opera performance (Lyceum Theatre) | |
October 16 | ||
| Morning | Visits to the Yuyuan Garden and Chenghuang Temple | |
| Mid-noon | Flight to Beijing (departure at 1:00 p.m.; arrival at Capital Airport at 3:00 p.m.; press conference at the airport press center) | |
| Afternoon | Check in at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse (12th Floor) | |
| Evening | Full delegation attends an ARATS welcome reception (Diaoyutai Hotel). | |
October 17 | Morning | 1. Visit to Biyun Temple in Xiangshan to pay respects at the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat-sen 2. Visit to Peking University |
| Mid-noon | ||
| Afternoon | Visit to the Forbidden City | |
| Evening | 1. Full delegation attends a banquet hosted by Mr. Chen Yunlin (Beijing Hall of the Great Hall of the People). 2. Beijing Opera evening party (Chang An Grand Theater) | |
October 18 | Morning | 1. Full delegation meeting with Mr. Qian Qichen (9:00 a.m. at the second floor of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse) 2. SEF-ARATS press conference (Diaoyutai Hotel ) |
| Mid-noon | Meeting with mainland-based Taiwan businesspeople (Shangri-La Hotel) | |
| Afternoon | 1. Meeting with Mr. Jiang Zemin (3:00~4:00 p.m. on the 18th floor of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse; five SEF delegates) 2. Reception with local and foreign reporters (5:00 ~6:00 p.m. at the Shangri-La Hotel press center) | |
| Evening | SEF-hosted banquet (Shangri-La Hotel) | |
October 19 | Morning | Return: Departure from Beijing at 10:35 a.m. and arrival at Narita Airport in Tokyo, Japan at 2:50 p.m. |
| Mid-noon | ||
| Afternoon | Waiting at Narita Airport for flight from Tokyo to Taipei (departure at 6:35 p.m.; arrival in Taipei at 9:20 p.m.) | |
| Evening | Delegation visits the Mainland Affairs Council to deliver a report on the visit. (10:30 p.m.) |
III. Meeting Events and Content of Dialogue
During the visit, the SEF delegation met successively with Wang Daohan, Chen Yunlin, Qian Qichen and Jiang Zemin. The highlights of these meetings are summarized as follows:
1. Meetings with Wang Daohan
(1) On the afternoon of October 14, the full delegation met with Mr. Wang for a general exchange on the respective positions of the two sides.
(2) During a second, smaller-scale meeting with Mr. Wang, the two sides reached four specific items of consensus:
A. The two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue and work towards the resumption of institutionalized negotiations.
B. The two sides agreed to enhance personnel exchanges between the SEF and ARATS at all levels.
C. The two sides agreed to assist each other in resolving issues concerning the rights and interests of the people.
D. The Taiwan side invited Mr. Wang to visit Taiwan, which he agreed to do at an appropriate time.
2. Meeting with Chen Yunlin
During the meeting with the SEF delegation, Chen Yunlin raised the issue of holding a political dialogue and the early arrangement of procedural discussions on political talks. He also mentioned "Jiang's Eight Points." In response, the Taiwan side requested that attention and respect be given to the agreement issues and that matters pertaining to the rights and interests of the people be given priority in the negotiations. The mainland side was also asked to directly consider the "Six Proposals of President Lee" (six specific proposals by President Lee Teng-hui on developing cross-strait relations).
3. Meeting with Qian Qichen
After the Taiwan side explained its proposals, Qian Qichen shared his views on the three issues of the "one China" principle, space for international activities and democratization. The Taiwan side promptly replied that each side has its own position about the "one China" principle and the two sides had agreed that "each side [would be] free to make its own interpretation" of this principle. If the mainland side forces its unilateral interpretation and pressures Taiwan's international space, it will have a negative impact on cross-strait relations. The Taiwan side also emphasized that democratization of the mainland is still the key to peaceful unification in future.
4. Meeting with Jiang Zemin
Chairman Koo Chen-fu noted that four points of consensus were reached at the Koo-Wang Meeting and expressed hope that these would be beneficial to the resumption of institutionalized negotiations. He also noted that the Taiwan side is willing to hold exchanges with the mainland and to share its experience in democratic reform. Taiwan is also willing to promote cross-strait agricultural cooperation; and it hopes that the top leaders of the two sides can meet at an APEC forum. Jiang Zemin recognized the four consensus items reached at the Koo-Wang Meeting. He also expressed his views on the statements by the Taiwan side. After the meeting, the two sides agreed that additional face-to-face exchanges would promote mutual understanding.
IV. Results of the Visit
The Koo-Wang Meeting was highly significant in that it reestablished contacts between the SEF and ARATS after a three-year break in negotiations between the two sides. The two sides also reached a substantive consensus to strengthen dialogue and work towards the resumption of talks. Mr. Wang Daohan also accepted an invitation to visit Taiwan at an appropriate time. The visit therefore achieved the intended results of restarting constructive dialogue between the SEF and ARATS.