Taiwan envoy in China for talks
Beijing (AFP) April 25, 2009 Taiwan's top envoy to China arrived here Saturday for a new round of talks aimed at cementing close economic ties and advancing political cooperation between the former rivals. Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the quasi-official Straits Exchange Foundation, and his 22-member delegation were warmly welcomed after arriving at east China's Nanjing airport in a ceremony carried by state television. A vice chairman of the foundation immediately began talks with his counterpart from China's semi-official Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to prepare for Sunday's formal meeting, the report said. On Sunday the two sides are expected to discuss financial cooperation, increasing cross-Strait flights and crime-fighting. The meeting aims to build on talks held in Beijing in June last year, the first direct dialogue between the two sides after a 10-year gap. That led to agreements launching the first-ever regular direct flights across the Taiwan Strait and boosting tourism, in a significant step for both sides. "Compatriots from both sides of the straits have felt the benefits and convenience brought by the implementation of the agreements," Xinhua news agency cited Chiang's mainland counterpart, Chen Yunlin, as saying. The agreements "were signed based on the principle of applying a practical and gradual approach to cross-straits relations -- economy before politics and easy problems before difficult ones," Chen added. Ties between China and Taiwan, which split in 1949 after a civil war, have warmed considerably since president Ma Ying-jeou came to power in May. The pro-Taiwan independence stance of his predecessor Chen Shui-bian, ensured rocky cross-strait ties during his eight years in office, which ended in 2008. "The cross-Strait ties, and even the triangle Taiwan-China-United States ties have been improving to their best-ever levels in six decades," Ma said in a Friday statement. China views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification, by force if necessary. The 22-member delegation will also visit Taiwanese-invested businesses in China before wrapping up their trip on April 29. Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Taiwan News at SinoDaily.com
Taiwan president upbeat ahead of China talks: envoy Taipei (AFP) April 24, 2009 Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou is positive talks with China this weekend will bring the two sides closer as bilateral ties continue to flourish, an official said Friday. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |