BEIJING, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton has urged Taiwan and the mainland to set aside their differences and work together, the China Daily reported Monday.
Clinton was visiting Taiwan and made his remarks Sunday, despite a warning from Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said last week that Clinton, as a former U.S. president, should be familiar with "China's solemn position on the Taiwan question," the China Daily said.
It was Clinton's first trip to Taiwan since being elected president in 1992. However, he visited the island four times as Arkansas governor and many Taiwanese are fond of him. Listeners packed an auditorium in Taipei to hear him, the China Daily said.
The former U.S. president said Taiwanese investors in the mainland were giving hope to Chinese workers and could help reduce the possibility of a conflict between the two sides.
"While our differences are important, our common humanity matters more," he said. "The more people have positive things to do, the less likely they are to fall into destructive patterns."
Clinton arrived in Taiwan from Japan. He earlier visited China after touring areas in southern Asia ravaged by the Dec. 26 tsunami.
