SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung stays in position

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Source: CCTV.com | 05-11-2009 09:21

Taiwan chief negotiator Chiang Pin-kung, who had tendered his resignation as chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, agreed to stay on.

Taiwan chief negotiator Chiang Pin-kung, who had  tendered his resignation as chairman of the  Straits Exchange Foundation, agreed to stay on.

On Friday, Chiang told a press conference that he was willing to stay and finish the ongoing work. He said when he met mainland's chief negotiator Chen Yunlin in Nanjing last month, he had invited Chen to Taiwan, and he would keep to his promise.

Chiang, who will turn 77 this December, told the media on Wednesday that he decided to resign because of his age and physical strength. Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou, didn't endorse the decision and returned Chiang's written resignation.

Chiang Pin-kung was appointed chairman of the Taiwan based Straits Exchange Foundation after Ma Ying-jeou became the island's leader in May last year.

Since last June, mainland and Taiwan negotiators have held three talks, leading to the signing of historic agreements allowing direct flights, shipping and postal services across the straits, and open the island to mainland tourists and investment.

Editor:Zhang Ning