Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

TAIWAN CALLS CHINA'S RESPONSE TO ITS INITIATIVES 'FRIENDLY'

Central News Agency

2005-06-15 23:43:37

    Taipei, June 14 (CNA) Taiwan considers China's response to its initiatives for bilateral talks on two issues "friendly," Cho Jung-tai, the spokesman for the Executive Yuan said Wednesday.

    Cho said Beijing didn't turn down Taiwan's initiatives out of hand; that means the two private organizations asked by the Taiwan authorities to negotiate with Beijing on two different issues may now approach their Chinese counterparts.

    Premier Frank Hsieh said on Monday that his administration has asked the Taipei Airlines Association and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to talk with Beijing on possible direct charter cargo flights between the two sides and the export of Taiwan's fruits to the mainland.

    The two private groups were asked to act on behalf of the government because of Beijing's refusal to have any official contacts with Taiwan, which would lend credit to Taiwan's claim to be a state.

    A Chinese official in charge of Taiwan affairs said earlier that day in Beijing that China would like to exchange views with Taiwan on charter cargo flights although it believes that direct passenger flights are more urgently needed.

    As to the negotiations on import of Taiwan fruits, the official said Beijing prefers to talk with the Taiwan Farmers' Association.

    Cho said TAITRA, which has succeeded in selling the first batch of 500 tons of Taiwan papaya to Japan Wednesday, is capable of marketing Taiwan's agriculture products.

    The premier also promised on Monday to pick appropriate private group to talk with China on the issue of allowing Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan.

(By Maubo Chang)

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