Government and Policy

Fourth round of cross-Straits talks start

By Xing Zhigang (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-22 10:30

Fourth round of cross-Straits talks start

Chen Yunlin (L), president of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), shakes hands with his counterpart Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), before they hold talks in the Taiwanese city of Taichuang on Tuesday morning, December 22, 2009. [chinadaily.com.cn]

TAICHUANG: The fourth round of cross-Straits talks began Tuesday morning as negotiators sat down to hammer out the details of three agreements on trade issues.

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Chen Yunlin, president of the Beijing-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), met his counterpart Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). The two organizations represent the authorities in Beijing and Taiwan.

They are expected to sign agreements on fishing crew cooperation, agricultural quarantine inspection and industrial product standards on Tuesday afternoon.

A long-expected agreement on avoiding double taxation across the Straits will be put off due to "technical reasons", Chen said on Tuesday ahead of the talks.

They will also discuss a proposed economic cooperation framework agreement similar to a free trade agreement.

Balloons with banners in support of the fourth round of cross-Straits talks are seen outside the venue in Taichuang, Taiwan, China on Tuesday morning, December 22, 2009. [chinadaily.com.cn]

Photographers are adjusting their cameras before the start of the fourth round of cross-Straits talks in Taichuang, Taiwan, China on Tuesday morning, December 22, 2009. [chinadaily.com.cn]