New Zealand Politicians To Meet Taiwan's Premier Next Week

United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, will lead a multi party delegation to the Republic of China on Taiwan next week.

A highlight of the visit will be the first ever meeting between New Zealand Parliamentarians and the Taiwanese Premier, Mr Chang Chun-hsiung, as well as a meeting with the Foreign Minister, Mr Hung-mao Tien.

"These meetings are an indication of the value Taiwan places on its relationship with New Zealand, and surely highlight the value for New Zealand in developing closer political relations with Taiwan."

"It is unreasonable that Taiwan should continue to be excluded from international bodies like the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation and New Zealand should be standing up for Taiwan on these issues."

"I have long believed that while the differences between China and Taiwan are for those two countries to resolve, the one-China policy we have followed slavishly since 1972 is now an outmoded hangover of Cold War thinking that places no incentive on China to improve relations with Taiwan."

"By contrast, it is worth recalling that being on good terms with China did not stop our caving in to demands from President Ziang Zemin over removing protestors during his APEC visit," Mr Dunne says.

Mr Dunne says Taiwan is one of the world's strongest economies and is an emerging democracy we should be encouraging, not shunning.

Other members of the delegation are National MPs Arthur Anae, Simon Power and Richard Worth and ACT MP Stephen Franks.

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