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Chen Yunlin (2nd L), president of
the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the
Taiwan Straits (ARATS), toasts with Chiang Pin-kung (2nd R), chairman of
Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), at a welcoming banquet in
Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 3, 2008. Chen Yunlin
arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 3 for a five-day visit. (Xinhua/Xing
Guangli)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
TAIPEI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) chief Chen Yunlin
arrived here on Monday to begin a five-day milestone visit to Taiwan.
Chen's visit marked the first meeting in Taiwan
between leaders of the ARATS and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation
(SEF).
The talks were aimed at deepening cross-Strait
economic cooperation "for the benefit of compatriots across the Strait,"
according to mainland authorities.
The meeting was significant for the
"institutionalization of ARATS-SEF consultations" and the peaceful development
of cross-Strait relations, said Xu Bodong, a well-known Beijing-based scholar on
the Taiwan issue.
Chen said after arriving here that tasks for the
talks were "clear and simple" and "for the good of the people on both sides".
He said the talks would not involve political issues.
"No cross-Strait political issues will be involved, nor will the island's
internal political affairs."
Each subject of the consultations would benefit both
sides, and the ARATS would "continue to work with the SEF with a positive and
pragmatic attitude to seek common ground and satisfactory results through equal
consultation," Chen said.
On Tuesday morning, Chen was expected to hold talks
with SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung, their second meeting in less than six months.
They were to discuss 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 would also host seminars for
experts to exchange views on financial cooperation in light of the international
financial crisis, he said.
As the consultations were closely linked with public
livelihoods and economic development across the Strait, analysts believed Chen's
visit would be a "win-win" trip.
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Chen Yunlin (R Center), president of the
Chinese mainland's Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
(ARATS), arrives at 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)
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Chiang said Chen's visit to Taiwan was historic as
well as a key step in achieving peace and mutual economic benefit.
He believed their talks would yield fruitful results.
But Chen's visit was "a late appointment," Chiang
said. "In the history of cross-Strait communications, the moment came after six
decades."
Chen said: "President Wang Daohan and Chairman Koo
Chen-fu worked all out for the moment to come, but their wishes could not come
true."
In April 1993, then ARATS President Wang and then SEF
Chairman Koo held a historic "Wang-Koo meeting" in Singapore. It was the first
public meeting between leaders of the two organizations. They signed four
agreements on economic and trade cooperation.
"The two have passed away, but they must feel great
relief if they can see today's visit from the afterlife," Chen said.
On Monday afternoon, Chen also visited Koo Yen
Cho-yun, the widow of Koo Chen-fu, former SEF chairman who passed away in 2005.
"Today, SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung and I realized
the long-term wish of our predecessors. We will carry on their cause and try our
best to work for the peaceful development across the Strait," he said.
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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)
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POSITIVE
RESPONSE
Taipei stocks rose 2.55 percent on Monday on hopes
that the historic meeting would further improve cross-Strait relations.
Meanwhile, major Taiwan newspapers published positive
reports about the historic cross-Strait talks.
"We welcome Chen's visit and expect the Taiwan public
to treat him with politeness for better cross-Strait interactions in the
future," said the editorial by the Taiwan-based Economic Daily News. "His visit
bears great significance to cross-Strait relations and regional peace and
security."
Taiwan's Commercial Times said in its editorial that
Chen's trip to the island "symbolized a new era that cross-Strait relations are
moved toward reconciliation and cooperation from confrontation".
Xu Bodong told Xinhua that ARATS-SEF talks in Taipei
marked significant progress in institutionalizing such forms of consultation,
from the previous "one-way" visits to the mainland by the Taiwan side, to the
current first trip to the island by mainland officials.
It meant that ARATS and SEF had truly realized a
"mutual visit," Xu said, adding: "It is a great sign of the development of
cross-Strait relations and a big event destined to go down in history."
Statistics from the Taiwan side showed that about
1,030 reporters had applied to cover Chen's visit, more than 800 of whom were
Taiwan reporters, a record number of Taiwan reporters covering a single news
event on the island.
Founded in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and
SEF were authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait exchanges.
Negotiations had been suspended for almost 10 years until June when Chen and
Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.
Mainland Taiwan affairs chief:
Cross-Straits talks to be step-by-step
BEIJING,
Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, Taiwan affairs chief of the Chinese mainland, said
here on Monday that cross-Straits consultations should follow a step-by-step
pattern.
The two sides should first tackle issues that are
relatively easier to solve, said Wang, director of both the Taiwan Work Office
of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office
of the State Council. Full story
ARATS chief Chen Yunlin leaves for
Taiwan
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Chen Yunlin (2nd R), president of the
Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
(ARATS), waves before heading for Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan
Province, at the airport in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 3, 2008. Chen
Yunlin left Beijing on Nov. 3 for Taipei for a five-day trip.(Xinhua
Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
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
ARATS chief optimistic about
cross-Strait tourism
BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The mainland-based
Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen
Yunlin on Thursday expressed optimism about the prospect of cross-Strait
tourism.
Chen expressed belief in a group interview with
Taiwan media that with concerted efforts from both mainland and Taiwan, the
potential of cross-Strait tourism would be fully tapped. 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
Taiwan industrial associations welcome
ARATS chief's visit
TAIPEI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Seven industrial and
commercial associations in Taiwan on Tuesday voiced support and welcome for the
visit of mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits
(ARATS) president Chen Yunlin.
The associations said in a joint statement that
although different parties on the island hold different opinions about Chen's
visit, the associations, concerned about Taiwan's economic development, want to
express support to the authority's invitation of Chen to have
dialogue. Full story
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