ARATS chief arrives in Taiwan, starts milestone trip

Source: Xinhua | 11-04-2008 08:29

TAIPEI, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) chief Chen Yunlin arrived here on Monday to begin a five-day milestone visit to Taiwan.

Chen Yunlin (2nd L), president of the Chinese mainland's  Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), toasts with Chiang Pin-kung (2nd R), chairman of Taiwan-based  Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), at a welcoming banquet  in Taipei of southeast China's Taiwan Province Nov. 3, 2008. Chen Yunlin arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 3 for a five-day visit. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Chen's visit marked the first meeting in Taiwan between leaders of the ARATS and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

The talks were aimed at deepening cross-Strait economic cooperation "for the benefit of compatriots across the Strait," according to mainland authorities.

The meeting was significant for the "institutionalization of ARATS-SEF consultations" and the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, said Xu Bodong, a well-known Beijing-based scholar on the Taiwan issue.

Chen said after arriving here that tasks for the talks were "clear and simple" and "for the good of the people on both sides".

He said the talks would not involve political issues. "No cross-Strait political issues will be involved, nor will the island's internal political affairs."

Each subject of the consultations would benefit both sides, and the ARATS would "continue to work with the SEF with a positive and pragmatic attitude to seek common ground and satisfactory results through equal consultation," Chen said.

On Tuesday morning, Chen was expected to hold talks with SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung, their second meeting in less than six months.

They were to discuss cross-Strait direct shipping, air transport, postal services, food safety and tourism, Chen said in a speech after landing at the Taoyuan International Airport.

The two organizations would also host seminars for experts to exchange views on financial cooperation in light of the international financial crisis, he said.

As the consultations were closely linked with public livelihoods and economic development across the Strait, analysts believed Chen's visit would be a "win-win" trip.