Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou meets ARATS chief
6/11/2008 17:56
Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou met with chief of mainland's Association for
Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chen Yunlin in Taipei at 11:00 am
today.
Ma said during the meeting that the landmark talks between Chen and
Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung in Taiwan
were significant and marked a big step in cross-strait relations.
Ma said he
believed the development was the wish of the people of both sides and would
contribute to cross-strait stability and prosperity.
Chen is in Taiwan for a
historic five-day visit at the invitation of the SEF. His visit is the first
ever meeting between the ARATS and SEF leaders in Taiwan.
On Tuesday, Chen
and Chiang held talks and signed four agreements on direct shipping and flights,
postal services and food safety. Professionals from the mainland and Taiwan also
discussed financial and economic cooperation.
Ma said the talks between the
ARATS and the SEF had been fruitful and would have a positive impact on
facilitating cross-strait personnel exchanges, boosting economic and trade ties,
strengthening food safety and coping with global financial turmoil.
Ma said
differences and challenges still remained between the mainland and Taiwan. He
expressed his hope that the two sides would handle the differences with a
positive attitude and keep cooperating.
He hoped for more high-level visits
between the mainland and Taiwan and for more beneficial talks between the ARATS
and the SEF.
Ma and Chen exchanged gifts at the meeting, which took place in
a hotel. Chen presented Ma with a painting of a galloping horse. Ma's surname
means horse in Chinese language. Ma gave Chen a fine porcelain
ornament.
Chiang and other members of the SEF were also at the meeting, which
lasted only about five minutes.
Xinhua
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