BEIJING, April 1 (UPI) -- Taiwanese President-elect Ma Ying-jeou said the private Straits Exchange Foundation would handle Taiwanese business but left party roles open.
Ma noted that the channels of communication between the Taiwanese Chinese Nationalist Party, or KMT, and the Communist Party in Beijing remained open, the Taipei Times said Tuesday.
The statement came following a meeting with KMT Chairman Lien Chan.
Ma noted the division between work relegated to the Straits Exchange Foundation and the political parties remained distinct. The Chinese government authorized only the SEF to deal with business and technical matters between China and Taiwan.
Lien noted both parties expressed interest in exchanging ideas on reaching a common ground on tourism, agriculture and other issues.
