Date: January 31, 2017
MAC Press Release No. 010
"The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue." These are the words of history's youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner, Pakistani activist for women's rights Malala Yousafzai. It also speaks to the hopes of many visiting international dignitaries for cross-Strait relations at this time.
People at home and around the world have closely watched the government's cross-Strait policy and the current state of cross-Strait relations. Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chang Hsiao-yueh is as an experienced professional diplomat who places high importance on receiving visiting international dignitaries and exchanges of views. Statistics indicate that the MAC has received more than 150 delegations with a total of over 1,000 people from various countries. Over the past eight-plus months alone, the MAC has received nearly 120 delegations formed by a total of more than 800 politicians, experts, scholars, and other persons from around the world concerned with cross-Strait issues. While the minister and three deputy ministers are the major figures in receiving the guests, the heads of the MAC's relevant departments also join the ranks, carefully and clearly explaining cross-Strait relations and related issues to ensure understanding by the visiting dignitaries.
Apart from hoping to understand the newly changed cross-Strait situation, the visiting dignitaries give considerable attention to the external objective and subjective factors affecting cross-Strait relations and the government's cross-Strait policy. A succession of dignitaries has expressed recognition and support for the repeated appeals by President Tsai Ing-wen and the government for the two sides to set aside the package of history and continue communication and dialogue. One U.S. dignitary cited in conversation with Minister Chang words by Malala Yousafzai echoing the President Tsai's stance: "The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue." Spoken by Malala Yousafzai at the age of 16, these words are undoubtedly the best commentary on the solution for cross-Strait relations at this time.