Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on Friday expressed a wish to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in South Korea in November and meet with Chinese President Hu Jin-tao during the summit, dpa reported. Chen expressed the wish to an envoy of South Korea's President Roh Moo-hyun when he was delivering Taiwan's invitation to the summit that promotes trade and economic cooperation. Since the APEC leaders' summit was launched in Seattle in 1993, Taiwan's president has been barred from attending under pressure from China. In the past, the host country has issued an invitation to Taiwan but asked that an envoy be sent in the president's place. Chen appealed to President Roh to assist in allowing him to attend the 2005 APEC summit, to be held in Busan November 20-21. He noted that if Roh could bring about a meeting between him and Hu at the APEC summit, it would have historical significance. "Former (South Korean) president Kim Dae-jung held the summit between South and North Korean leaders. I believe President Roh can bring about Taiwan and Chinese leaders' summit during the APEC summit," Chen told Roh's envoy. --mor 1242 Local Time 0942 GMT
