Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung was confident of a smooth implementation of the new agreements between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, saying they were "conducive to enhancing Taiwan's economic competitiveness and protecting the Taiwan public's interests".
Chiang and the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president Chen Yunlin signed agreements on direct shipping and flights, postal services and food safety during their first summit in Taipei on Tuesday.
The agreements were expected to end a situation that has prevailed since 1949, which required air and sea movements between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to go through a third place.
Chiang told a news conference that the agreements were the "fruits of concerted cross-Straits efforts" as "in only five months since June, the two organizations could complete consultations and reach deals".
The ARATS and the SEF leaders held their first talks since 1999in Beijing in June. The two signed agreements on weekend charter flights and tourism. They also agreed to hold a second meeting in Taiwan, which is the current meeting.
"It shows that ARATS and SEF have established an institutionalized consultation mechanism via such formal talks," he said.
Chiang said that only after Taiwan combined its advantage with the mainland, which had become the "world's factory" and an "international market", could the island's geographic edge be brought to a full play in building an Asia-Pacific operational center.
The achievements of the consultations were of great significance for Taiwan to become a regional logistics hub, which could greatly benefit Taiwan's economy and people, he said.
A Taiwan-based Economic Daily News editorial said the consultations' contribution to the island economy was practical, and the agreements on transportation, mail and food safety cooperation, as well as on tourism, were opening-up policies long awaited by Taiwan enterprises.
"The prospect of economic returns brought by direct shipping and flights is apparent as it will be helpful in reducing the cost of trade across the Straits ... and bring more employment opportunities," it said.
Source: Xinhua
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