Chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chen Yunlin (L) presents a painting of horse to Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Nov. 6, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TAIPEI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met with chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chen Yunlin in Taipei at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.

    Ma said during the meeting that the landmark talks between Chen and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung in Taiwan were significant and marked a big step in cross-strait relations.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou (R) meets with chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chen Yunlin in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Nov. 6, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Ma said he believed the development was the wish of the people of both sides and would contribute to cross-strait stability and prosperity.

    Chen is in Taiwan for a historic five-day visit at the invitation of the SEF. His visit is the first ever meeting between the ARATS and SEF leaders in Taiwan.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou (C front) poses for a photo with chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) Chen Yunlin (3rd L) in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan Province, Nov. 6, 2008. Ma and Chen met in Taipei at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    On Tuesday, Chen and Chiang held talks and signed four agreements on direct shipping and flights, postal services and food safety. Professionals from the mainland and Taiwan also discussed financial and economic cooperation.

    Ma said the talks between the ARATS and the SEF had been fruitful and would have a positive impact on facilitating cross-strait personnel exchanges, boosting economic and trade ties, strengthening food safety and coping with global financial turmoil.

    Ma said differences and challenges still remained between the mainland and Taiwan. He expressed his hope that the two sides would handle the differences with a positive attitude and keep cooperating.

    He hoped for more high-level visits between the mainland and Taiwan and for more beneficial talks between the ARATS and the SEF.

    Ma and Chen exchanged gifts at the meeting, which took place in a hotel. Chen presented Ma with a painting of a galloping horse. Ma's surname means horse in Chinese language. Ma gave Chen a fine porcelain ornament.

    Chiang and other members of the SEF were also at the meeting, which lasted only about five minutes.

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou (R) shakes hands with chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chen Yunlin during their meeting in Taipei on Nov. 6, 2008.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli)  Photo Gallery>>>

Chinese mainland offers pandas, rare plants to Taiwan

    TAIPEI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs said here Thursday morning that the giant panda pair that mainland promised to donate to Taiwan in 2005 will soon arrive in the island.

    "After completing relevant procedures, the panda pair, Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan will, arrive in Taiwan and be housed at the Taipei Mucha Zoo," said Chen, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). Full story

Chen-Chiang talks open new era for cross-Strait ties

    BEIJING, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Experts from across the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday hailed the agreements signed and the talks between the heads of the two main negotiating bodies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, saying they opened a new era in cross-Strait ties.

    During Tuesday's talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung, four agreements were signed on food safety, direct shipping and flights, and mail services.  Full story

Mainland, Taiwan agree on direct cross-Straits transport, mail

Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (front L) shakes hands with the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (front R) after signing four agreements on direct sea transport, direct flights, post service and food safety cooperation in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Photo Gallery>>>

    TAIPEI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland and Taiwan agreed on Tuesday to allow civilian planes and ships to directly cross the Taiwan Straits.

    The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung, signed agreements on direct shipping and flights, postal services and food safety during their first summit in Taipei on Tuesday.  Full story

ARATS, SEF chiefs hold talks in Taipei 

Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin (L) shakes hands with the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (R) during their talks in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TAIPEI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- The heads of the two main negotiating bodies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan sat down together in Taipei on Tuesday morning for their first ever summit in Taiwan.

    The mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung, began talks in Taipei. Full story

ARATS chief arrives in Taiwan, starts milestone trip 

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). Full story

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