TAIPEI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs, Chen Yunlin, said here Monday that his upcoming talks with Taiwan representatives will not involve political issues.

    "The goals of the meeting are clear and well-defined," said Chen, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) at a welcoming ceremony held by the Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

    "No cross-strait political issues will be involved, nor will the island's internal political affairs," he said.

Chen Yunlin, president of the Chinese mainland's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrives at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province, Nov. 3, 2008. Chen Yunlin arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 3 for a five-day trip.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo Gallery>>>

    Chen arrived in Taipei on Monday at noon, starting a five-day historic visit to the island.

    On Tuesday morning, Chen is expected to hold talks with SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung. It will be the second meeting between them in less than six months.

    Chen said they will discuss cross-strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism. They are also expected to exchange views on the economic impact of the international financial crisis.

    The two will also make arrangements for their next meeting in 2009.

    ARATS and SEF are expected to sign agreements on Tuesday afternoon and hold press conferences, according to the schedule.

    Chen's visit marks the first ever visit by an ARATS chief to Taiwan since the organization was founded in 1991.

    SEF chairman Chiang said Chen's visit to Taiwan was historical as well as a key step in achieving peace and mutual economic benefit.

    He believed their talks would yield fruitful results.

Chen Yunlin (L front), president of the Chinese mainland's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), is welcomed by Kao Koong-lian (R front), vice chairman and secretary-general of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo Gallery>>>

    On Monday afternoon, Chen is scheduled to visit the widow of Koo Chen-fu, the former SEF chairman who passed away in 2005.

    Founded in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and the SEF are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-strait exchanges.

    Negotiations between the two were suspended for almost 10 years until this June, when Chen and Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.



ARATS chief arrives in Taiwan on historic visit

Chen Yunlin (R Front), president of the Chinese mainland's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), delivers a speech during the welcoming ceremony held by Chiang Pin-kung (2nd L Front), chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 3, 2008. Chen Yunlin arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 3 for a five-day trip.(Xinhua/Zhao Bo) Photo Gallery>>>

TAIPEI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) chief Chen Yunlin arrived in Taipei on Monday at the start of a five-day historic visit to Taiwan.

Chen's visit marks the first ever meeting between leaders of the ARATS and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Taiwan.Full story

ARATS chief Chen Yunlin leaves for Taiwan

BEIJING, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yunlin, chief of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), left Beijing Monday morning for Taipei on a five-day visit. He is the first ARATS chief to visit the island.

Chen is expected to meet with Chiang Pin-kun, chief of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). It will be the second meeting between ARATS and SEF heads in almost 10 years. The first was held in Beijing in June.Full story

SEF chairman says ARATS chief's visit to Taiwan significant

BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chiang Pin-kung said the mainland delegation's visit to the island would be of historic significance.

The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president Chen Yunlin will lead a delegation to Taiwan from Nov. 3 to 7, the first meeting on the island between the two parties.Full story