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Chiang-Chen talks 'fruitful'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-04 20:00

TAIPEI  -- Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Lai Shin-yuan said on Tuesday that the talks between the heads of the two main negotiating bodies of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have been "fruitful".

Tuesday's talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung, were "smooth and fruitful" with four agreements signed on food safety, direct shipping and flights, and mail services, she said when meeting with Chen here.

She said the two organizations had held two high-level sessions within five months. The two sides across the Straits had taken concrete measures and held consultations, showing the world a strong will to face realities, shelve differences, actively improve ties and practically address the needs of people on both sides for exchanges.

Lai expressed the belief that so long as the two sides sincerely seek mutual understanding, they would surely gradually resolve their differences.

Chen arrived in Taiwan on Monday to begin a five-day visit. In June, the ARATS and the SEF held talks in Beijing and signed two agreements, almost 10 years after the suspension of talks.