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Praise from unusual quarter

By Xing Zhigang (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-05 07:31

TAIPEI -- Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Lai Shin-yuan has hailed the "highly fruitful outcome" of the talks between Chen Yunlin and Chiang Pin-kung.

Chen is the president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Chiang is chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Chen Yunlin (L), president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), proposes a toast with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman P.K. Chiang during a cross straits meeting signing ceremony at the Grand Hotel in Taipei November 4, 2008. [Agencies]

Tuesday's talks between Chen and Chiang were "smooth and fruitful", the director of the "mainland affairs council" said. The two sides also signed deals on air and sea transport, postal services and food safety.

The two organizations have held two high-level meetings in five months, which is a great achievement, Lai said when she met with Chen.

She quit the pro-independence Taiwan Solidarity Union after the party threatened to expel her if she met with Chen.

Lai was named "mainland affairs council" chief by Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, who defeated Chen Shui-bian in the elections to end the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's eight-year-rule in March.

The two sides across the Straits have taken concrete steps and held fruitful talks, showing the world their strong will to face reality, shelve differences, improve their ties and address the needs of people on both sides, Lai said.

As long as the two sides seek to enhance mutual understanding sincerely, they will be able to resolve their differences, she said.

The most senior mainland envoy to visit the island since 1949, Chen said it was a great honor for him to hold talks with Chiang in Taiwan.

The deals signed between the ARATS and the SEF have met with the expectations of people across the Straits, he said.

Chen reached Taiwan on Monday on a five-day visit. The ARATS and the SEF held talks in Beijing in June, and signed two agreements, almost 10 years after the suspension of cross-Straits talks.

Dinner and tribute

Honorary Kuomintang chairman Lien Chan hosted a banquet in honor of Chen and his 60-member delegation last night.

Lien said the Chen-Chiang talks will consolidate cross-Straits ties and help the pursuit of mutual benefit.

They are a big step toward peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, he said.

Chen also went to Taoyuan county to pay tributes to the late Wang Yung-ching, founder of Taiwan's Formosa Plastics Group. Wang died on Oct 15 at the age of 91. He strongly advocated the establishment of three direct links across the Straits.