Cross-Straits negotiators meet in mainland

HANGZHOU - Chen Deming, president of the Chinese mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), met with his Taiwan counterpart Lin Join-sane here Thursday.

Lin, chairman of Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), is leading a visit by SEF directors and supervisors to the mainland.

At the meeting, Chen stressed the ARATS and SEF should continue their regular talks, cherish positive exchanges between them and work to protect progress they have made so far.

The two organizations should try their best to promote cross-Straits exchanges and warm up affection between people on both sides, he said.

Chen welcomed the visit and expressed appreciation toward participation in the exchanges.

The ARATS and SEF are entrusted to handle cross-Straits talks and have held ten rounds of talks since 2008 which produced a series of important agreements, including lifting the ban of direct shipping, air transport and postal services across the Taiwan Straits and the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, a comprehensive cross-Straits economic pact.