Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je said he will respect efforts made and history and is willing to play a new role in seeking a breakthrough in the development of cross-Straits relations.
"So far, no one in the world will think there are 'two Chinas', so 'one China' is not a problem. To respect history and agreements that the two parts have achieved and to pursue a better future for the people cross-Straits are what leaders should do," said Ko, responding to a question during a joint media interview that asked his opinion on the "1992 consensus", an agreement reached with acknowledgment that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China.
"Based on the existing political foundation, leaders of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan should uphold the principle of mutual knowing, understanding, respecting and cooperating and to adhere to the spirit of 'both sides belong to one family'", Ko added.
He admitted that in the past cross-Straits communication has made progress, but there remain aspects to be improved.
"The two parts cross-Straits should diversify communication methods in the future. I am not a member of the Kuomintang or the Democratic Progressive Party. Without the burden of party responsibility I hope the communication of Taipei city under my leadership with the Chinese mainland will become the breakthrough for the current stalemate in cross-Straits relations," he said.
Any provocative remarks or opinions that do no good to improve cross-Straits relations are unnecessary and should be restrained. It's the deed that a responsible leader should do, he said.
"I am sure there will be people disagree with my opinion, but without doing so there will be no way to break the stalemate. For the sake of the benefits of people cross-Straits, I will like to take the responsibility," he said.
"Just as what I had done as a surgeon before, results will prove it," Ko added.
