Wang Yi (R), director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shakes hands with Chen Yunlin, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), at the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2012. Chen returned to Beijing Friday after a visit to Taiwan. (Xinhua/Li Fangyu)
TAIPEI/BEIJING -- Chinese mainland negotiator Chen Yunlin on Friday concluded his three-day trip to Taiwan after signing two cross-Strait agreements on investment protection and customs cooperation during Thursday's talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, marking the eighth round of negotiations since regular cross-Strait talks resumed in 2008.
Chen, president of the Chinese mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), and Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), signed the two agreements that aim to improve the protection of the rights and interests of cross-Strait investors and promote two-way investment, as well as facilitate customs clearances.
The two agreements, especially the long-awaited investment protection and promotion agreement, made headlines in Taiwan's major newspapers Friday.
The China Times daily in its editorial said the signing of the agreements meant the negotiations between the ARATS and the SEF over the past two years were worthwhile.
"Now we hope that both sides of the Taiwan Strait will implement the cherishable agreement with full hearts so as to protect cross-Strait investment," the article wrote.
According to a statement issued Friday by the Professional Management Association in Taipei, most of the 30 Taiwanese company executives, lawyers and scholars surveyed late Thursday think the timing of the signing of the investment protection agreement is right and they are satisfied with the improved protection it will bring to Taiwanese investors on the mainland.
While welcoming the returning delegation at the airport, Wang Yi, the Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, also expressed congratulations on the achievements made during the talks.
"The entire negotiation process for the investment protection agreement showed that although cross-Strait talks are gradually involving more complicated issues, we will surely achieve anticipated goals as long as the two sides make joint efforts and head toward the same direction," Wang told reporters.
Wang urged the ARATS and the SEF to focus on accelerating the negotiations for the service trade agreements in order to win a consensus within the year. He also called for concrete progress on the negotiations concerning goods trade.
The two fresh agreements brought the total number of cross-Strait pacts signed since 2008 to 18 and were seen as a key move in carrying forward the ARATS-SEF talks following the signing of the landmark Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in 2010, which has greatly boosted cross-Strait ties.
Founded in 1991 and 1990, respectively, the ARATS and the SEF are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to handle cross-Strait affairs.
