Mainland´s Taiwan affairs chief says economic co-op priority for cross-straits relations

Source: Xinhua | 04-27-2009 08:30

NANJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Economic cooperation is the priority of the Chinese mainland-Taiwan relations at present and in the near future, said the mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Wang Yi on Sunday.

Wang, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when he met with Chiang Pin-Kung and his negotiating delegation from the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Wang said the three agreements and one consensus reached during this round of talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the SEF indicate new progress of cross-Strait talks and "new achievement" in cross-Strait relations.

During the talks here Sunday, the ARATS and the SEF signed three agreements on launching regular flights and boosting cooperation in finance and handling criminal proceedings.

They also reached a consensus on allowing mainland companies to invest in Taiwan.

"The goal of economic normalization between the two sides is being realized," said Wang, also director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.