Former chairman of Taiwan's main opposition party Kuomintang
(KMT), Ma Ying-jeou, has been nominated to represent the KMT in the
2008 Taiwan leader election.
Ma was nominated at the KMT Central Standing Committee meeting
on Wednesday, according to reports by Taiwan media.
According to KMT rules, the nomination has to be formally
confirmed at the KMT party congress in June.
Speaking after his nomination, Ma said his prime goal is to
improve Taiwan's economy.
He criticized the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s
closed-door policy in dealing with cross-straits relations, saying
that restrictions on cross-straits business should be relaxed.
He proposed to develop tourism and allow mainland tourists to
visit Taiwan.
(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2007)