Taiwan negotiators arrive at Chongqing for talks
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A delegation headed by Taiwan's chief negotiator on cross-Straits affairs Chiang Pin-kung arrived at Chongqing Monday for talks with the Chinese mainland, at which the two sides are expected to reach a hugely significant and long-awaited economic pact.
The upcoming fifth round of talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Tuesday would "make final confirmation" on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and an agreement on intellectual property rights protection, said the ARATS president Chen Yunlin at a welcoming ceremony in honor of Chiang in the mainland's Chongqing City.
"The inking of the ECFA is a strategic move by both sides of the Taiwan Straits to improve the competitiveness of the Chinese in face of new problems arising from the globalisation of the world economy and regional integration," Chen said.
The talks between the ARATS and SEF had brought about 12 agreements in the past two years, ranging from mainland people visiting Taiwan, cross-Straits shipping, air transportation, cooperation in the fight against crime, mutual legal assistance, to labor cooperation in the fishing industry, cooperation in inspection and quarantine of agricultural products.
"We have achieved so much in such a short time. The agreements signed represent the common interests of the people on both sides of the Straits, and they show the people's common aspirations for peace, development and mutual benefits," he said.
"Facts prove that compatriots across the Straits have the capability and wisdom to solve their own problems through negotiations," Chen said.
SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kung said the ECFA would further remove cross-Straits trade and investment barriers and benefit people on both sides. The intellectual property rights protection is an inevitable move that will help development of high-tech products on both sides of the Straits.
The talks between the ARATS and SEF is scheduled for Tuesday. This will be the fifth round since the ARATS and the SEF resumed negotiations in June 2008 after a 11-year suspension.
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