Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian attended the New Year flag-raising ceremony Sunday before delivering his annual New Year address and had an unusual warm interaction with main opposition Kuomingtang (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, the first KMT chairman to attend the ceremony since 2000.
Ma attended the New Year flag-raising ceremony at the Presidential Office plaza Sunday, marking the first time since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election in2000 that a KMT chairman has attended the ceremony.
Chen twice shook hands with Ma, who stood beside him during the ceremony. Ma told the media later that Chen mentioned in the brief talk on the issue regarding an arms procurement bill pending in the legislature. Ma reiterated to Chen that KMT will be rational in dealing with the issue.
Vice President Annette Lu, who concurrently serves as the acting DPP chairwoman, also shook hands with Ma. And Ma gave Premier Frank Hsieh a pat on the back before leaving.
However, the goodwill between the DPP and KMT became unsure after Chen talked about national identity, constitutional reform and illegal assets of political parties in his New Year address three hours later. The DPP and KMT are far apart on all three issues. It remains to be seen whether the relationship between two parties will be on and off again.
Ma replied the media question on the outlook of the year 2006 after the flag-raising ceremony and said he expects KMT to exercise its majority -- although it's a "fragile majority" -- in the legislature to push forward various bills actively and predominantly through rational dialogue in the coming year.