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China, Taiwan happy over talks

— Photo: AP

Fruitful visit: Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin (left) and his Taiwanese counterpart Chiang Pin-kung hold a picture of a Formosa sika deer after they signed a deal to swap rare wildlife in Taipei on Thursday.

TAIPEI: Chinese chief negotiator on Taiwan affairs Chen Yunlin returned to Beijing on Friday completing a five-day historic visit to Taiwan. Mr. Chen is the president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

“The visit completed a long-awaited and honoured mission entrusted by compatriots across the strait,” said Mr. Chen at a brief send-off ceremony in Taipei.

“The road ahead is very long and there will be various difficulties, but we will definitely take our responsibility,” Mr. Chen said.

Mr. Chen said the ARATS and Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) would live up to the expectations of compatriots across the strait and would continue working for mutual benefits. He said he left Taiwan with a sense of the people’s “deep friendship towards mainland compatriots,” and with their understanding and support of his delegation. Mr. Chen said he hoped more Taiwan people would visit China and promised that Taiwanese visitors would have harmonious and pleasant experiences.

SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung praised Mr. Chen’s visit at the ceremony, saying it was short but “fruitful”.

He said many Taiwan media conducted a poll about his meeting with Mr. Chen. “One poll said 52 per cent of the Taiwan public showed approval of the talks and another gave 56 per cent approval showing that our efforts were not made in vain,” said Mr. Chiang. Mr. Chiang promised that his organisation would continue to work for peace across the strait and mutual economic benefits between Taiwan and China.

Set up in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and the SEF were two non-governmental organisations authorised by China and Taiwan to handle cross-strait issues.

Mr. Chen and Mr. Chiang signed four agreements on direct shipping, air transport, postal services and food safety. No cross-strait political issues were involved in the talks.

The two organisations also discussed cooperation to cope with the international financial crisis. On Thursday, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met briefly Mr. Chen and his delegation. — Xinhua

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