Published on ShanghaiDaily.com (http://www.shanghaidaily.com/)
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200811/20081104/article_379376.htm
Chen Yunlin (right), president of the Chinese mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, meets with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Strait Exchange Foundation, at the Grand Hotel in Taipei yesterday. Chen arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit. The two sides will hold talks today to discuss agreements on transport and tourism.
Chen Yunlin (right), president of the Chinese mainland’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, meets with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Strait Exchange Foundation, at the Grand Hotel in Taipei yesterday. Chen arrived in Taiwan yesterday for a five-day visit. The two sides will hold talks today to discuss agreements on transport and tourism.
Cross-Strait talks set on transport, tourism
Created: 2008-11-4 1:17:35
THE leaders of the two groups charged with fostering improved relations across the Taiwan Strait are scheduled to meet today for the first time in Taipei for wide-ranging talks on establishing closer transport and tourism links, among other topics.
Chen Yunlin, head of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, arrived in Taipei yesterday to begin his historic five-day visit to Taiwan.
Chen's trip marks the first ever meeting in Taiwan between leaders of ARATS and the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation.
Chen is expected to hold talks today with SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung, the second meeting between them in less than six months.
They planned to discuss agreements on cross-Strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism, Chen said in a speech after landing at the Taoyuan International Airport.
The two organizations will also host seminars discussing financial cooperation designed to help address the international financial crisis, he said.
Chen said both the mainland and Taiwan are facing grim economic challenges given the financial crisis and the slowdown in the growth of the world economy.
"It is imperative that the two sides join to help each other cope," he said.
After the official talks between leaders of ARATS and SEF this morning, the two organizations will sign agreements in the afternoon and hold a press conference.
ARATS, founded in 1991, and SEF, which began in 1990, are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait exchanges. Negotiations were suspended for almost 10 years until June, when Chen and Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.
Wang Yi, Taiwan affairs chief of the Chinese mainland, said in Beijing yesterday that cross-Strait consultations should follow step-by-step development.
The two sides should first tackle issues that are relatively easy to solve, said Wang, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office.
He said that the signing of today's expected agreements would lay a foundation for more comprehensive development of cross-Strait relations. Wang said the mainland holds an open and positive attitude toward future topics.
Chen Yunlin, head of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, arrived in Taipei yesterday to begin his historic five-day visit to Taiwan.
Chen's trip marks the first ever meeting in Taiwan between leaders of ARATS and the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation.
Chen is expected to hold talks today with SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung, the second meeting between them in less than six months.
They planned to discuss agreements on cross-Strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism, Chen said in a speech after landing at the Taoyuan International Airport.
The two organizations will also host seminars discussing financial cooperation designed to help address the international financial crisis, he said.
Chen said both the mainland and Taiwan are facing grim economic challenges given the financial crisis and the slowdown in the growth of the world economy.
"It is imperative that the two sides join to help each other cope," he said.
After the official talks between leaders of ARATS and SEF this morning, the two organizations will sign agreements in the afternoon and hold a press conference.
ARATS, founded in 1991, and SEF, which began in 1990, are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait exchanges. Negotiations were suspended for almost 10 years until June, when Chen and Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.
Wang Yi, Taiwan affairs chief of the Chinese mainland, said in Beijing yesterday that cross-Strait consultations should follow step-by-step development.
The two sides should first tackle issues that are relatively easy to solve, said Wang, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office.
He said that the signing of today's expected agreements would lay a foundation for more comprehensive development of cross-Strait relations. Wang said the mainland holds an open and positive attitude toward future topics.
Xinhua
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