Cross-strait talks between mainland, Taiwan set on Dec. 22

FUZHOU, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) will hold talks in Taiwan's Taichung on Dec. 22, according to Thursday's preparatory meeting.

The two organizations are authorized by authorities in the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait issues.

According to a preliminary agreement, ARATS President Chen Yunlin and SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung will meet for the fourth round of talks since they resumed negotiations in June last year following a 10-year suspension.

Zheng Lizhong, standing vice president of the ARATS, and Kao Kung-lian, vice chairman and secretary general of the SEF, decided the ARATS delegation would visit the island between Dec. 21 and 25.

The agenda was agreed on during the preparatory meeting in Fuzhou, capital of southeastern Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait.

The agenda includes discussion of labor cooperation in the fishing industry, cooperation in the fields of inspection and quarantine of agricultural products and standard measurement authentication, avoidance of double taxation and boosting taxation cooperation.

The two organizations are scheduled to hold a symposium on Dec.23 to introduce the mainland investment to the island.

The ARATS delegation will also tour the Taichung City, the surrounding area and the Sun Moon Lake, and leave the island at noon of Dec. 25.

Zheng said talks between the ARATS and the SEF, which negotiate issues deeply concerned by people of both sides, were "remarkable symbolization of the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations."

He said it shows the two organizations respect each other and "treat each other as equals" in promoting cross-Strait economic cooperation and improving people's livelihood.

The talks were supported and welcomed by people from both sides, Zheng said, adding the upcoming fourth round of talks would take into consideration the desire of people on both sides and the development of cross-Strait relations.

The two sides also discussed the use of relief funds donated by the mainland to Taiwan to combat Typhoon Morakot in August.

The ARATS received 450 million yuan of relief funds and has already delivered one third of it to the SEF. The rest would be sent to the SEF next week, it said.

Both sides agreed that the funds would be used in rebuilding the island's damaged bridges, schools and public facilities.