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Triumphant homecoming for mainland envoy

By Wu Jiao (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-08 09:16

Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top negotiator on Taiwan affairs, returned to Beijing on Friday afternoon after inking historic pacts despite thorny protests.

The president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), was the first mainland chief negotiator to set foot in Taiwan, where he sealed deals on direct flights and postal services during a five-day visit.

The mainland's top envoy on Taiwan affairs Chen Yunlin(left) gets a gift of ceramic vase from island leader Ma Ying-jeou at the Taipei Guest House on Thursday. [Asianewsphoto]

He also met the island's leader Ma Ying-jeou Friday - the first-ever such meeting.

"The visit turns a new page in cross-Straits relations, and we will continue working our hardest to serve people on both sides," Chen said, after landing at Beijing Capital International Airport. The disruptions during his visit will not halt the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, he said.

"There were indeed disruptions during the Taiwan visit, but the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations will benefit people in Taiwan and is also the inevitable trend of history," he said at the airport.

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"We firmly believe the same sense of justice is shared by all people. With more Taiwan people personally experiencing the benefits brought by the cross-Straits talks, more people will understand the efforts, and the cross-Straits relationship will embark on a better future."

Chen visited Taiwan at the invitation of the island's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). His visit marked the first-ever talks between ARATS and SEF leaders on the island.

Wang Yi, minister of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, received Chen's delegation in Beijing.

Wang said the visit Chen led to Taiwan was a tour of peace that warmed relations between mainlanders and their compatriots on the island.

"The institutionalized talks between the two sides is a new starting point, and the cross-Straits relationship is poised for an unprecedented and bright future," Wang said.

"The road ahead is still very long and the task arduous but it is an irreversible trend that the cross-Straits relationship will develop peacefully."

SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung praised Chen's visit at a ceremony to see Chen off from Taipei, saying that it was short but "fruitful".

Many Taiwan media conducted polls about his meeting with Chen, he said.

"One poll said 52 percent of Taiwan's public approved of the talks, and another gave a 56 percent approval rating, which shows our efforts were not in vain," Chiang said.

He promised his organization will continue working for peace and mutual economic benefit across the Straits.

Founded in 1991 and 1990, respectively, ARATS and SEF are two nongovernmental organizations authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Straits issues.

During Chen's visit, 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 discussed.

The two organizations also discussed cooperation in coping with the international financial crisis.

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

Xinhua contributed to the story