TAIPEI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), predicts a steady advance for the cross-strait talks, after the historic visit to Taiwan by Chen Yunlin, director of the Mainland-based Association for the Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

    Chen's visit, between Nov. 3 and 7, is a breakthrough for the regularized talks between the two organizations, said Chiang, in an interview with Xinhua correspondents, on Tuesday.

 

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 File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The SEF and the ARATS signed four agreements during Chen's Taiwan tour, following the signing of two other agreements between the two sides last June, when Chiang met Chen in Beijing.

    All these indicate that cross-strait relations are improving rapidly with all-around impacts that will help improve cross-strait ties, benefit the welfare of the people living on the two sides, said Chiang. A recent survey shows that Taiwan people are in favor of the new talks, he added.

    These agreements, including those on the opening of direct flights and navigation across the straits, will be beneficial to increasing Taiwan's economic strength and competitiveness, said the SEF chairman.

    He suggested that international companies used Taiwan as a springboard for them to manage their businesses on the mainland or the whole of Asia, so that it could be "quite easy for Taiwan to fulfill its dream of becoming the Asia-Pacific center for business operation."

    These exchanges will further shorten the distance between the two sides, geographically and psychologically, and it is helpful for the peaceful development across the strait, Chiang said. Moreover, he said, the opening of more direct chartered flights and airports, on the two sides, will be absolutely helpful to the gloomy economy of Taiwan.

    During Chen's visit, transport operators and bankers from the two sides exchanged their views on their possible cooperation in the future, which will be beneficial for the two sides to cope with the current global financial crisis, the SEF chairman said.

    According to Chiang, 70 percent of Taiwan people support these agreements, though there are differences between the ruling Kuomintang Party and the former ruling party, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

    "Director Chen Yunlin is welcome to visit Taiwan once again," Chiang said, noting that he expected a third round of talks with the ARATS head on issues that are mutually-beneficial.

    Chiang praised Chen for his calmness when there were protests held by some people from Taiwan's "green camp", mainly referring to supporters of the DPP. He noted that Chen had served as head of the mainland's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office for 15 years and has a good knowledge of Taiwan.

    The majority of Taiwan people are warm-hearted, simple and honest, and hospitable to visitors, while mainland tourists will be well protected when they travel to Taiwan, said Chiang.

    In the future, he said, the two bodies will focus their talks on issues like the protection of investment, the prevention of double taxation, the protection of intellectual rights, and cooperation on crackdowns on crimes, rather than issues that are related to politics. The two sides, particularly Taiwan people and Taiwan business people on the mainland, will benefit from the resolving of these problems, he stressed.

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 

    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