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U.S. welcomes signing of cross-strait pacts

ROC Central News Agency

Washington, Nov. 4 (CNA) The United States government welcomed Tuesday the signing of four agreements between Taiwan and China that will strengthen transportation and postal links and address food safety issues.

Washington has acknowledged the sealing of the agreements and welcomed the latest development, the State Department said.

A State Department official said to the Central News Agency that increasing contact between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is conducive to regional stability and prosperity.

The official reiterated that the U.S. has long urged the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to engage in constructive dialogue so as to solve their differences and defuse tensions.

The United States' policy on Taiwan has remained unchanged and the U.S. is pleased to see Taiwan and China continue to increase their exchanges, the official said.

Top negotiators for Taiwan and China sealed four agreements Tuesday in Taipei at the conclusion of their second round of talks in five months, paving the way for expanded air services, the establishment of direct maritime shipping and postal services and the creation of a food safety control mechanism between the two sides.

The agreements were signed by Taipei-based Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits President Chen Yunlin on behalf of their respective governments.

(By Chiehyu Lin and Deborah Kuo)

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