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ARATS chief concludes historic Taiwan visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-07 16:58

He said many Taiwan media conducted a poll about his meeting with Chen. "One poll said 52 percent of the Taiwan public showed approval of the talks and another gave 56 percent approval showing that our efforts were not made in vain," said Chiang.

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 briefly with Chen and his delegation.
Polls in Taiwan showed that the majority of the Taiwan public were supportive of the talks between the mainland and Taiwan.

Taiwan's China Times said 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 of people believed the agreements would have positive impacts on Taiwan's development.

The United Daily News said 52 percent of respondents believed the agreements would bring more benefits than harms and 42 percent believed the cross-Straits relations would be further eased.

The newspaper also said that 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 went violent, clashes happened between protesters and riot police. The United Daily News said 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 that 54 percent of the respondents believed that the DPP failed to keep rational and thus should shoulder the key responsibility for the clashes.

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