Former Vice President Vincent Siew met with Chinese officials at the Boao Forum in China’s Hainan Province. Siew is participating in the forum as honorary head of the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation. The foundation is a non-governmental organization that conducts research on market ties between Taiwan and China.
Siew met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday morning at the forum’s opening ceremony followed by a lunch with the premier. It was Li’s first high profile meeting with a major politician from Taiwan since he became premier in 2013.
Siew told Li that Taiwan needs to be integrated into the regional economy by joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Li said that the two sides will have peaceful development, better communication and cooperation as long as they are working in the same direction.
Siew then led Taiwan’s delegation to meet with Li in the afternoon. The minister of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhang Zhijun is set to host a banquet Thursday evening to welcome Siew and his delegation.