China, Taiwan agree to strengthen implementation of cross-Strait accords

CHANGSHA – After a two-day meeting, Taiwan and China yesterday reached consensus on proposals to improve implementation of nine of 19 agreements they have signed to date.

The Changsha meeting - between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) - was held to review the implementation and impact of the 19 cross-Taiwan Strait pacts signed since 2008, when Taiwan’s President, Ma Ying-jeou, set in motion a more conciliatory approach toward China.

Consensus was reached on strengthening the implementation of accords covering co-operation in the fields of finance, air transportation, sea transportation, health care, crime fighting, food safety, investment protection, fishing crews, and agricultural quarantines. China also agreed to study the feasibility of allowing transit stops by Chinese travellers in Taiwan.

Beijing also agreed to be more active in helping Taiwan track down several fugitives at large on the Mainland, to deepen cross-strait financial exchanges, and to study a Taiwan proposal to launch "express delivery by sea" between the two sides, according to the SEF.

ARATS President, Chen Deming, will meet with Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Wang Yu-chi after the 10th round of SEF-ARATS talks in Taipei on February 26-27. The SEF and ARATS have agreed to complete negotiations on a proposed merchandise trade deal and a planned dispute-resolving mechanism as early as possible (ATI).