BEJING // Lien Chan, the honorary chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang Party (KMT), said he believes China's leaders are considering some degree of political reform "in the coming decade".
"I do believe that it is an issue that is being considered by the leadership," said Mr Lien, who met the Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum in Honolulu. "What that will lead to, nobody can tell."
Any moves towards political openness in mainland China are followed closely in Taiwan, a democracy. A poll by the Global Views Security Research Center in April found that 7.5 per cent of Taiwan's people favour unification, 27 per cent support independence and 53.5 per cent want to maintain the status quo. China has said a union may be achieved through a "one-country, two-systems" approach, as was used to repatriate Hong Kong in 1997. Mr Lien mentioned laws protecting property rights and local elections as signs of recent political progress.
Mr Lien, 75, was chairman until 2005 of the political party that ruled on the mainland until 1949, when the advancing Communists, now led by Mr Hu, pushed Chiang Kai-shek to retreat to Taiwan. As chairman of the KMT, Mr Lien steered the party away from a pro-independence line that stoked anger and military threats from mainland China.
The return of the KMT to power in 2008 under President Ma Ying-jeou was followed by closer ties to the mainland, including direct air travel, increased trade and regular visits between KMT officials and their Communist counterparts.
Trade between Taiwan and mainland China totalled US$133.1 billion (Dh488.9bn) in the first 10 months of this year, a 12 per cent increase from a year earlier, according to Chinese customs statistics. The total was just behind Germany, which recorded $140.2bn in trade with China in the same period, the customs figures show.
Mr Lien said his talks with Mr Hu focused on progress made in promoting closer economic ties between the mainland and Taiwan. Mr Hu refers to him as his "old friend", Mr Lien said. The two have met at previous Apec summits and at other events. Ties between Taiwan and the mainland will continue to deepen as the two sides take incremental steps to improve relations, he said.
* Bloomberg News
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- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
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Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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Price, base / as tested From Dh173,775 (base model)
Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km
SPECS%3A%20Polestar%203
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
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The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
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Directed by: Shari Springer Berman, Robert Pulcini
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2/5
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
COMPANY PROFILE
The%20specs%3A%20Panamera%20Turbo%20E-Hybrid
The%20specs%3A%202024%20Panamera
Kanguva
COMPANY%20PROFILE
Sreesanth's India bowling career
Tests 27, Wickets 87, Average 37.59, Best 5-40
ODIs 53, Wickets 75, Average 33.44, Best 6-55
T20Is 10, Wickets 7, Average 41.14, Best 2-12
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Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
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Russia's Muslim Heartlands
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Paatal Lok season two
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Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre V8
Power: 480hp at 7,250rpm
Torque: 566Nm at 4,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: L/100km
Price: Dh306,495
On sale: now
While you're here ...
UAE SQUAD FOR ASIAN JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP
Men’s squad: Faisal Al Ketbi, Omar Al Fadhli, Zayed Al Kathiri, Thiab Al Nuaimi, Khaled Al Shehhi, Mohamed Ali Al Suwaidi, Farraj Khaled Al Awlaqi, Muhammad Al Ameri, Mahdi Al Awlaqi, Saeed Al Qubaisi, Abdullah Al Qubaisi and Hazaa Farhan
Women's squad: Hamda Al Shekheili, Shouq Al Dhanhani, Balqis Abdullah, Sharifa Al Namani, Asma Al Hosani, Maitha Sultan, Bashayer Al Matrooshi, Maha Al Hanaei, Shamma Al Kalbani, Haya Al Jahuri, Mahra Mahfouz, Marwa Al Hosani, Tasneem Al Jahoori and Maryam Al Amri
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Company Profile
Company name: Yeepeey
Started: Soft launch in November, 2020
Founders: Sagar Chandiramani, Jatin Sharma and Monish Chandiramani
Based: Dubai
Industry: E-grocery
Initial investment: $150,000
Future plan: Raise $1.5m and enter Saudi Arabia next year
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution