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Updated Tuesday, December 22, 2009 9:54 am TWN, The China Post news staff

President Chen Yunlin, China's top negotiator with Taiwan, smiles while sampling locally produced pearl milk tea at a reception hosted by Taichung Mayor Jason Hu. (CNA)

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Wider road to peace: Chen

Compared with the more violent demonstrations during his previous visit to Taipei, the protesters in Taichung have shown much more peaceful, rational, and affable attitudes, Chen observed.

This is good for all sectors in the society, said Chen who also expressed his apologies to people in Taichung for the inconveniences caused by his visit.

Chen volunteered to become a spokesman for Taichung by recommending the city to Chinese who plan to go on sightseeing tours to Taiwan.

In his welcoming address, SEF Chairman Chiang said people on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will mutually benefit from closer cooperation on overcoming the difficulties caused by the international financial turmoil last year.

Taiwan people's aid to earthquake victims in China's Sichuan Province last year and the mainland's reciprocal assistance for Taiwan flood victims in early August proved the importance of placing humanitarian aid above political differences, Chiang said.

He also read a poem to express his wish to forgive the grudges as well as the wins and losses in previous confrontations between the two sides in the past 60 years for the benefits of the people and the long-term peace of the world.

Chiang indirectly confirmed that he and Chen will sign three agreements in this week's formal fourth round of talks while shelving a taxation pact, which requires further discussions.

He said the three agreements concerning fishing crew cooperation, agricultural and food quarantine inspection, and industrial product standards, inspection and certification will all significantly affect the interests of many people on both sides of the strait.

The two top negotiators are also set to exchange views on the securing of an economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA), which will further cross-strait economic interchanges, put Taiwan enterprises on an equal competitive footing with foreign companies on the huge Chinese mainland market, and help eliminate obstacles for Taiwan's signing of free trade agreements with other nations.

In addition, the pair will also discuss a pact on protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) between Taiwan and China after a suggestion made by Chen.

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Comments

December 22, 2009 in.sanxia@

And why not!!?? We need a little corner of peace in this world.
Supporting the DPP's call for independence - is really a call to support a bunch of power hungry corrupt thugs - they do not care about us.