P.K. Chiang ready for historic talks in Beijing

Chiang said he will also exchange views with Chen on other key issues, including possible Taiwan's assistance concerning the post-quake relief and reconstruction projects in China's devastated southwestern Sichuan Province.

Chiang and his 19-member delegation arrived in Beijing to a warm welcome yesterday from Zheng Lizhong, the executive deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and other Chinese officials.

He will hold talks this morning with Chen, chairman of the Beijing-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), for the first formal discussions between the sides since 1999.

Chiang's delegation include two vice Cabinet ministers -- the highest-ranking Taiwanese officials ever to participate in bilateral talks.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Chiang said the upcoming talks are a good beginning and he expects to see more cross-straits negotiations in the future.

"In the future, we hope the two sides can hold talks on mutual trust and create a win-win situation," he said.

Before leaving Taipei, Chiang said he was well aware of the historic nature of his mission.

"Our most important goal is to promote peace," he told reporters at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport.

The 75-year-old economic planner said he expected to sign an accord opening the way for 36 charter flights every weekend to cross the Taiwan Strait of 100 miles (160 kilometers) that geographically separate the Taiwan and China.

Taiwan has banned direct scheduled flights since the 1949 division of the two sides.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos Respond to this email