Next round of Taiwan-China talks postponed due to differences

ROC Central News Agency

2011/08/24 21:20:14

By Lee Hsin-Yin

Taipei, Aug. 24 (CNA) The seventh round of top-level talks between Taiwan and China will not take place this month as planned, as there are some issues that have yet to be resolved, the Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) said Wednesday.

SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung was scheduled to meet with his Chinese counterpart -- Chen Yunlin, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) -- in August to finalize two agreements on nuclear safety cooperation and investment protection.

However, the meeting has been postponed to an undetermined date because of differences on some issues that the two sides have not yet ironed out, according to SEF Vice Chairman Kao Koong-lian.

The differences lie mainly in the wording of the investment protection accord that includes provisions related to personal safety protection and the establishment of a dispute arbitration mechanism, according to SEF officials.

Although progress has been made in the working-level discussions, the two sides have not yet reached an agreement, he said.

"I can't say at the moment whether the negotiations will be held in September or even later," he said. "What I am sure about is that they will not take place this month."