(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-06-11 10:44

A delegation headed by the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kun left Taipei for Beijing on Wednesday morning to attend talks with the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS).

It will be the first talks between the SEF and ARATS after they resumed their talks after a suspension of nine years.

The delegation departed Taoyuan airport at 9:30 am Wednesday, Taiwan's media reported.

Before departure, Chiang said he felt the great responsibility of the talks, and would try his best to meet people's expectations and write a new chapter in history.

He expressed hope the talks between the SEF and ARATS would promote the realization of a win-win prospect and enable people on the two sides of the strait to have better lives.

Chiang regarded the four-day trip as a new start and one of mutual trust and consultation. "The trip is aimed at the realization of peace and common prosperity of the two sides."

"The cross-Strait relations will not only influence economic and trade exchanges of the two sides but also is of great significance to the stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

The delegation was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 3 pm Wednesday.

On May 29, the ARATS sent a letter to the SEF inviting SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kun and Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian to lead an SEF delegation to visit Beijing from June 11 to 14 for talks on cross-Strait weekend chartered flights and mainland tourists' traveling to Taiwan.

Later on May 29, the SEF accepted the invitation for talks and Chiang said he "expected that chairmen of the two sides could sign agreement on related issues on June 13".

SEF and ARATS are authorized non-governmental organizations (NGO) engaged in talks on issues related to cross-Strait exchanges.

ARATS was established in Beijing on December 16, 1991, aimed at promoting cross-Strait exchanges, developing cross-Strait relations and realizing a peaceful reunification of the country.

Chen Yunlin, former director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, China's Cabinet, was elected ARATS chairman on June 3.

ARATS was previously headed by Wang Daohan who died in December 2005. Since then, the chairman's position had been vacant.

The SEF was established in Taipei on November 21, 1990. Koo Chen-fu was elected the foundation chairman.

The SEF was authorized by the Mainland Affairs Council under the Executive Yuan of Taiwan to deal with cross-Strait affairs "inconvenient" for the Taiwan authority to handle.

After Koo died, Chang Chun-hsiung and Hong Chi-chang of the Democratic Progressive Party had acted as SEF chairmen successively.

On May 26, Chiang Pin-kun, vice chairman of the Kuomintang, was elected SEF chairman.