A poll reveals high approval ratings from the Taiwan public over recently signed cross-Straits agreements.

The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president Chen Yunlin holds talks last Tuesday morning with the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman Chiang Pin-kung.

The survey, released by Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council on Sunday, found more than 70 percent of people on the island supported the regular cross-Straits talks mechanism.

More than 60 percent believed the agreements on food safety, direct shipping and flights, and mail services were good for Taiwan's economy.

Those agreements were signed last Tuesday in Taipei during talks between the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president, Chen Yunlin, and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) chairman, Chiang Pin-kung.

When it came to the ARATS-SEF mechanism, 68 percent believed it was helpful for solving cross-Straits problems and up to 75 percent supported the continuation of the mechanism.

The telephone survey was conducted among 1,067 adults aged 20 and above by the council between Nov. 5-8.

Liu Teh-hsun, deputy chief of the council, was quoted by local media as saying that cross-Straits consultations this time were focused on economic issues and aimed to bring benefits to the people of both sides.

The survey results showed that the public was highly supportive of the talks and the council would continue to maximize the effects of cross-Straits talks to bring more benefits to the Taiwan people and contribute to regional peace and stability, Liu said.

Chen's historic visit to Taiwan took place from Nov. 3-7.

(Xinhua News Agency November 10, 2008)