Scholars from Taiwan and China called yesterday for cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait on long running territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

Ahead of the signing of a service industry trade agreement by cross-strait counterparts this Friday, governing bodies and trade associations yesterday staged a seminar, in an attempt to explain the purpose of the deal to the public.

Taiwan's representative to the United States said Monday that the U.S.'s stance toward Taiwan remains unchanged following President Barack Obama's meeting with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (習近平) earlier this month.

A cross-strait agreement on trade in services will have fewer downsides for Taiwan than China, a senior Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF, 海基會) official said yesterday.

The Taipei Airlines Association (TAA) yesterday urged the government to allow mainland Chinese travelers flying with local airlines to transfer in Taiwan.

Taiwan called on Monday for more direct flights connecting it and China and the relaxation of restrictions that prevent Chinese passengers from flying from the mainland to a third destination through Taiwan.

China announced six measures aimed at promoting further exchanges with Taiwan Sunday, saying that there are another 25 in the pipeline.

Taiwan will open its doors to individual Chinese travelers from 13 additional Chinese cities in June and August, the Tourism Bureau said Sunday.

Two institutes from different sides of the strait yesterday signed a cooperation agreement on the cultivation and training of financial talents, and 12 banks from both sides also signed financial cooperation pacts.

Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Wu Po-hsiung (吳伯雄), after returning from China, yesterday rejected accusations that he has betrayed Taiwan.