ARATS chief arrives in Taiwan, starts milestone trip

Chen Yunlin (R Center), president of the Chinese  mainland's Association of Relations Across the  Taiwan Straits (ARATS), arrives at Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei of southeast  China's Taiwan Province Nov. 3, 2008. Chen Yunlin  arrived in Taiwan on Nov. 3 for a five-day trip. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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

He believed their talks would yield fruitful results.

But Chen's visit was "a late appointment," Chiang said. "In the history of cross-Strait communications, the moment came after six decades."

Chen said: "President Wang Daohan and Chairman Koo Chen-fu worked all out for the moment to come, but their wishes could not come true."

In April 1993, then ARATS President Wang and then SEF Chairman Koo held a historic "Wang-Koo meeting" in Singapore. It was the first public meeting between leaders of the two organizations. They signed four agreements on economic and trade cooperation.

"The two have passed away, but they must feel great relief if they can see today's visit from the afterlife," Chen said.

On Monday afternoon, Chen also visited Koo Yen Cho-yun, the widow of Koo Chen-fu, former SEF chairman who passed away in 2005.

"Today, SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung and I realized the long-term wish of our predecessors. We will carry on their cause and try our best to work for the peaceful development across the Strait," he said.