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MAC briefs diplomatic corps on latest cross-strait talks

ROC Central News Agency

2009/05/01 20:53:34

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) The successful conclusion of the third round of talks between top negotiators from Taiwan and China was significant because it indicated that cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations channels are now fully functional, a high-ranking Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) official said Friday MAC Vice Chairman Chao Chien-min made the remarks at a seminar co-hosted by MAC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to brief members of the diplomatic corps in Taiwan on the outcome of the third round of talks between the top cross-strait negotiators from Taiwan and China.

He said the talks demonstrated that the mechanisms put in place to facilitate cross-strait dialogue are now fully functional and that the focus remains on matters of economic importance.

The discussions also signal continued improvement in cross-strait relations and greater security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

Singling out the new agreement on mutual juridical assistance that was signed between the two sides, Chao said it is conducive to upholding the rights and interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and bringing order to cross-strait exchanges.

Deputy Foreign Minister Andrew Hsia said that the purpose of the seminar was to help the diplomatic corps in Taiwan better understand the efforts being made by the government to improve cross-strait relations.

The latest round of talks between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung and Chen Yunlin, president of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), were held April 26 in the central Chinese city of Nanjing.

The two signed three agreements covering the launch of regular cross-strait passenger flights, mutual juridical assistance and joint cross-strait crime fighting, as well as financial cooperation. A joint statement on a proposal to open Taiwan to Chinese investment was also released on the occasion.

In a Q&A session at the seminar, the foreign representatives exhibited great interest in the exchanges between Taiwan and China and the future direction of cross-strait relations.

Tamas Feher, deputy head of the Hungarian Trade Office in Taipei, asked how many similar meetings would be needed before the two sides of the Taiwan Strait could put more sensitive issues on the agenda.

"We won't have a fixed agenda until we have a better consensus on our relationship with China, or until we have better trust between the two sides," Hsia responded.

Political issues such as a peace accord and greater military confidence are not the top priorities at the moment, according to Chao. Economic issues and the expansion of Taiwan's participation in the international community will remain the two pillars of the Taiwan government's cross-strait policy, he added.

"There are many things waiting there for our attention. We don't think we can handle so many things at the same time, " Chao said."As more and more practical issues are resolved, (sensitive issues) might surface in the next few years." (By Rachel Chan) Enditem /pc