Society

Mainland congratulates SEF's 20th anniversary

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-03-09 14:15

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) said Wednesday that it would continue to work with Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to achieve cross-Strait peace and people's welfare.

The ARATS made the statement in a letter sent to congratulate the SEF on reaching its 20th anniversary.

The ARATS and the SEF are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait affairs.

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The letter said the two organizations were formed 20 years ago when cross-Strait relations had just entered a conciliatory stage.

Talks between the two organizations had "paved the way for cross-Strait negotiations" based on the "1992 Consensus" under which both sides adhere to the one-China principle.

"The interaction between the ARATS and the SEF epitomizes development of relations across the Strait," it said.

The two organizations resumed talks in May, 2008 when cross-Strait relations underwent a "historical transformation." They also signed 15 agreements concerning the opening of "three direct links" of cross-Strait mail, trade, air and shipping services, as well as tourism and economic cooperation, among other agreements. They also reached consensus on mainland companies investing in Taiwan, the letter said.

It said the mechanism set up between the two organizations had helped resolve concrete problems in cross-Strait exchanges, and a platform had been established for officials and people from various circles on both sides to communicate with each other.

The letter also said the emergency aid function between the ARATS and the SEF "deepens relations and promotes mutual assistance between people of the mainland and Taiwan."