Mainland responds to Taiwan's representative to APEC leaders' meeting

Chinese mainland suggests the issue of Taiwan's representative to the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meeting be handled in accordance with provisions of the related Memorandum of Understanding and established practice, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Tuesday.

Hong made the remarks in response to a question about the island leader Ma Ying-jeou's intention to attend the APEC meeting in Bali, Indonesia, in October as the leader of an economy.

"We advocate that relevant issues should be handled in accordance with the provisions of related Memorandum of Understanding and established practice," Hong said in a press statement.

Set up in 1989, APEC now comprises 21 economies in the Asia-Pacific region.