ARATS chief says no politics involved in talks

Chen Yunlin (L front), president of the Chinese  mainland's Association of Relations Across the  Taiwan Straits (ARATS), is welcomed by Kao  Koong-lian (R front), vice chairman and  secretary-general of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).(Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Chen's visit marks the first ever visit by an ARATS chief to Taiwan since the organization was founded in 1991.

SEF chairman Chiang said Chen's visit to Taiwan was historical as well as a key step in achieving peace and mutual economic benefit.

He believed their talks would yield fruitful results.

On Monday afternoon, Chen is scheduled to visit the widow of Koo Chen-fu, the former SEF chairman who passed away in 2005.

Founded in 1991 and 1990 respectively, the ARATS and the SEF are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-strait exchanges.

Negotiations between the two were suspended for almost 10 years until this June, when Chen and Chiang held their first meeting in Beijing.

Editor:Du Xiaodan