Chen Yunlin (R), director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, toasts with Chiang Pin-kung, vice chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT), at a banquet Chen hosts for Chiang and his delegation in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, March 30, 2005. Chiang and his delegation arrived in Beijing on Wednesday. (Photo: Xinhua)

Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and the visiting delegation of the Kuomintang (KMT) led by KMT Vice President Chiang Pin-kung had a meeting on cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation Wednesday evening.

Present at the meeting were Li Bingcai, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office, and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the State Administration for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine, and the General Administration of Civil Aviation.

Chen told the KMT delegation that it is the consistent stance for the mainland to go all out for promoting cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation. It is compatible to the common interest of the compatriots on both sides and helpful for the economic development of Taiwan to strengthen cross-Straits economic cooperation and develop a close economic relationship across the Straits, he said.

Chen called the sustained development of the cross-Straits economic and trade relations "an important factor of peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits area." He urged the "flesh and bone" compatriots of the two sides to join hands in creating a bright future for the improvement and development of the cross-Straits relations.

In his speech, Chiang agreed that the cross-Straits economic and trade ties could be helpful for easing the tension across the Straits, resolving the contradiction between the two sides, be up to the aspiration of the people of the two sides, and be helpful for enhancing the competitiveness of Taiwan's economy. The two sides should take a pragmatic attitude in strengthening their economic and trade exchanges and people-to-people exchanges.

At the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues including the regularization of air flights between the two sides, which has been encouraged by the Spring Festival flights this year; cross-Straits cooperation on agricultural sector, the sale of Taiwan's farm produce in the mainland, the mainland's labor exports to Taiwan's fishing industry; cooperation between tertiary sectors of the two sides, including banks, insurance companies, shipping firms and medical service; and protection of the interests of Taiwan investors.

They also discussed ways to encourage exchanges between counties and cities across the Straits, send permanent correspondents by news media from the two sides through people-to-people discussions, allow students from two sides to pay the same school charges, and open up Taiwan as a destination for mainland tourists.

The CPC Taiwan Affairs Office urged the Taiwan Authorities to lift restrictions on cross-Straits economic, trade and cultural exchanges and the exchange of personnel, so as to promote cross-Straits relations.