Mr Ma has made participation in international organisations a key goal of his presidency. -- PHOTO: AP
TAIPEI - TAIWAN President Ma Ying-jeou says talks are under way with rival China on possible Taiwanese participation in the World Health Assembly, a United Nations body.
Mr Ma has made participation in international organisations a key goal of his presidency. Beijing says that the island should have no role in such organisations, because it falls under mainland sovereignty.
In remarks published on Yahoo Taiwan's website on Tuesday, Mr Ma confirms that 'we are talking about (the WHA) with the other side of the Taiwan Strait.'
He adds that he is hopeful Taiwan will be able to attend the May 2009 meeting of the body. Such attendance would likely be as an observer, rather than a member state, in keeping with Chinese policy.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. -- AP
