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Cross-Straits talks still on

By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-10-28 07:24

The scheduled talks between the mainland and Taiwan will go ahead next week, as both sides push for closer ties, the mainland's top negotiator said Monday.

Zheng Lizhong, executive president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, answers questions from the press Monday in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. [China Daily]

Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said he will begin his five-day visit to the island province on Monday, where he will hold several talks with his opposite number Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

The announcement of the agenda for an ARATS delegation headed by Chen was made yesterday after a preparatory session between the two organizations in Shenzhen, Guangdong province.

Zheng Lizhong, executive president of the ARATS, said the talks will cover such issues as direct shipping links, cargo charter flights, new flight routes, postal services and food safety.

The two sides will also discuss ways to boost economic cooperation to help deal with the challenges posed by the financial crisis, Zheng said.

Chen's visit "will be of significance to improving the welfare of people on both sides and safeguarding the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations", he said.

SEF Secretary-General Kao Kong-lian said negotiators are expected to sign four deals on air and shipping links, postal service and food safety.

This will be the first time an ARATS chief has visited Taiwan since the association was set up in December 1991. Both the ARATS and the SEF are semi-official bodies engaged in cross-Straits talks due to absence of official links between the mainland and Taiwan.

A planned visit to Taiwan by Chen's late predecessor, Wang Daohan in 1999, was hindered by former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui, when he defined cross-Straits relations as "special state-to-state relationship".

Cross-Straits negotiations, which began in 1993 and broke off in 1999, were resumed in June after Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang ended eight years of rule by the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Chen's visit will come almost two weeks after deputy ARATS chief Zhang Mingqing was attacked on Oct 21, during his visit to southern Taiwan.

The opposition DPP said yesterday it is planning a fresh wave of protests, which began with a mass rally on Saturday.

Kao, however, said the SEF will ensure Chen and his delegation are treated "in line with the principle of safety, dignity and convenience".

In a related development, the ARATS yesterday apologized to Taiwan consumers and manufacturers for the losses and troubles caused by the tainted milk scandal.

In a letter of apology sent to the SEF, it said mainland authorities will not tolerate anyone who endangers the health of consumers and will crack down on all illegal activities.

Agencies contributed to the story