Taipei, May 12, 2008 (CENS)--Cross-Taiwan Strait economic and trade ties will be the priority task for the National Security Council (NSC) initially, said Su Chi, secretary general-designate yesterday (May 11).

Su made the remarks following the publication of his appointment to the post by President-elect Ma Ying-jeou yesterday; the NSC is a staff organization to the President in formulating the policies concerning cross-Strait affairs, diplomacy, and national defense.

Su, 59, with a doctorate degree in political science from Columbia University, is a seasoned expert in cross-Strait affairs, boasting such stints under the former KMT regime as director general of the Government Information Office, chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, and deputy secretary general to the President. He is now a legislator of national constituency representing KMT.

He has abundant experience participating in cross-Strait talks and is the one who coined the term "92 consensus," or the adoption of "one-China" principle but with different interpretations from the two sides of the Strait, which has been adopted by Chinese Communists but vehemently denied by the DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) government under President Chen Shui-bian.

In the wake of the announcement of his appointment, Su also publicized the candidates for the three deputy secretary generals and five advisors of the NSC. The list includes three experts in cross-Strait economic ties, including Kao Chang, deputy secretary general, director of the First Research (Mainland Affairs) Division of Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, Chen Teh-sheng, NSC advisor, research fellow of the Institute of International Affairs, National Chengchi University, and Tsai Hung-min, deputy secretary general of the Chinese Federation of Industries.
(by Philip Liu)