Mainland, Taiwan sign cooperation deals

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have signed three new agreements on furthering cross-Strait economic development.

The deals were concluded during the latest round of cross-Strait talks, held in the city of Taichung, in central Taiwan.

A step forward in cross-Strait economic ties.

ARATS President Chen Yunlin and SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung signed three agreements on Tuesday.

One of the deals concerns the fishing industry.

Under the terms of the arrangement, the two sides agree to cooperate in off-shore and deep-sea fishing.

The deal also takes into account the protection of fishermen's interests.

Meanwhile, the agreement also addresses ways of resolving labor disputes in the industry.

Chen Yunlin (L, front), president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Chiang Pin-kung (R, front), chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), sign agreements in Taichung, southeast China's Taiwan, Dec. 22, 2009. Chinese mainland and Taiwan negotiators reached three agreements on fishing, farm produce and standards measuring on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Yuan Man)