Chen Yunlin(R), president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), together with his wife Lai Xiaohua, poses at a send-off ceremony in Taipei, southeast China's Taiwan province, Nov. 7, 2008. Chen Yunlin left here on Friday morning, concluding his five-day historic visit to Taiwan.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs, Chen Yunlin, returned to Beijing Friday afternoon completing a five-day historic visit to Taiwan.

    Chen, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrived at the Beijing Capital International Airport at 13:50 local time.

    "Chen and the whole delegation have fulfilled their historic task," said Wang Yi, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

    Cross-Straits relations have a bright future that people never conceived before as a result of the systematic talks between ARATS and its Taiwan counterpart, Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), he said.

    "We all know that there is still a tough path ahead, but no one can cut off the close connection between compatriots on both sides of the Straits that exists in our blood," Wang said. "Neither can anyone stop the eager exchanges between us nor reverse the trend towards peaceful development."

    Chen's visit marked the first ever talks between ARATS and SEF leaders on the island.

    "There were indeed disruptions during the Taiwan visit, but we received warm welcome and encourage from more Taiwan people. They showed sincere support to us and true expectation for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," Chen said at the airport.

    The peaceful development of cross-Straits relations will benefit Taiwan people and is also the inevitable trend of history, he said. "We firmly believe that the sense of justice is common to all people."

    More and more Taiwan people will feel the benefits from the talks when more progress is made, he said.

    "More of them will understand and support us," he added. "We believe, more strongly than before, that the perspective of peace and development across the Straits will be broader. No disruption can stop it."

    Before leaving Taipei, Chen said his trip completed "a long-awaited and honored mission entrusted by compatriots across the Taiwan Straits."

    "The road ahead is still very long and there will be various difficulties, but we will definitely take our responsibility," he said, adding that the ARATS and the SEF will live up to the expectations of compatriots from both sides.

    SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung praised Chen's visit, saying it was short but "fruitful".

    Chiang promised that his organization would continue to work for peace across the Straits and mutual economic benefits between Taiwan and the mainland.

    Set up in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and the SEF were two non-governmental organizations authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Straits issues.

    During Chen's stay in Taiwan, he held talks with Chiang and the two signed four agreements on direct shipping, air transport, postal services and food safety. No cross-Straits political issues were involved in the talks.

    The two organizations also discussed cooperation to cope with the international financial crisis.

    On Thursday, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met with Chen and his delegation.

    Wang said the visit was one of "exploration" "cooperation" and "peace", opening a new era in cross-Straits relations.

    Polls in Taiwan showed that the majority of the Taiwan public were supportive of the talks.

    Taiwan's China Times reported, 56 percent of people polled said they were glad that agreements were reached during Chen's visit and believed that the Taiwan Authorities should continue to promote cross-Straits exchanges. Fifty percent believed the agreements would have positive impacts on Taiwan's development.

    The United Daily News reported, 52 percent of respondents believed the agreements would bring more benefit than harm and 42 percent believed the cross-Straits relations would be further eased.

    The newspaper also said, 62 percent of people polled believed the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan's major opposition party, had crossed the line of democracy by leading its supporters to the street.

    As protests became violent, protesters clashed with riot police. The United Daily News reported, 53 percent of respondents said the violence had seriously damaged the image of the DPP and its chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

    The China Times also said, 54 percent of respondents believed that the DPP failed to be rational and thus should shoulder the main responsibility for the clashes.

ARATS president: Cross-Strait historical problems could be solved through mutual trust

Chen Yunlin, chief of mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), delivers a speech at a return banquet in Taipei on Nov. 6, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TAIPEI, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland's chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs Chen Yunlin said Thursday that complicated historical problems across the Taiwan Strait could well be resolved through mutual trust.

    Chen, president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), told a banquet, held in the island's landmark Grand Hotel, that problems could be settled as long as the two sides made concerted efforts with "kindness and wisdom" to create conditions and firstly solve economic and livelihood problems closely linked with public interests.

    Chen was grateful for the considerate arrangement and warm and friendly service on the part of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) over the past four days.   Full story

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou meets ARATS chief

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>>>

    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.  Full story

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

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

Taiwan's mainland affairs chief: Chiang-Chen talks "fruitful"

    TAIPEI, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Lai Shin-yuan said on Tuesday that the talks between the heads of the two main negotiating bodies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have been "fruitful."

    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, were "smooth and fruitful" with four agreements signed on food safety, direct shipping and flights, and mail services, she said when meeting with Chen here.   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