Cross-Strait exchanges to expand
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Chiang Pin-kung, Taiwan's chief negotiator on cross-Strait issues, said on Saturday that future exchanges across the Taiwan Strait will continue to expand.
Chiang, the chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), made the remarks during an outdoor activity held in Taipei to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the foundation.
The SEF and mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) are authorized by both sides to handle cross-Strait affairs.
Chiang said since June 2008, the SEF and ARATS have held six rounds of talks and signed 15 agreements and reached one consensus. In particular, the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which was signed last year, is producing results, as evidenced by expanding cross-Strait economic and trade exchanges and helping Taiwan's economic growth.
Chiang said that the two sides would discuss more economic cooperation after the ECFA goes into effect and there would be more mainland enterprises and students coming to Taiwan.
Taiwan has been hosting more delegations from mainland provinces and cities since 2008 and is receiving increasing mainland tourists. "I believe such exchanges will continue to expand this year," said Chiang.
During the outdoor reception held by the SEF on Saturday, hundreds of people from the mainland who are married to Taiwan residents and their children were invited to enjoy a local food promotion and receive advice about living on the island.
Since its founding in 1991, the SEF has handled document validation for more than 300,000 mainland spouses and family members living in Taiwan. Involved documents exceeded 360,000 items, according to SEF statistics.
"We will provide better service for and work with you all to promote cross-Strait peace," he said.
Lai Shin-yuan, Taiwan authorities' chief for mainland affairs, said at the reception that the SEF has played an important role in cross-Strait exchanges during the past 20 years.
The number of service cases SEF handled each year sharply has increased from about 5,000 in the early years after its founding to more than 400,000 in recent years, Lai said.
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