MAC, TAO to hold talks in Guangzhou

2015/10/05

The fourth official meeting between the heads of Taipei City-based Mainland Affairs Council and Beijing-headquartered Taiwan Affairs Office is scheduled to take place Oct. 14 in Guangzhou, mainland China.

MAC Minister Andrew Hsia and his TAO counterpart Zhang Zhijun are expected to discuss such issues as collaboration on environmental protection, establishment of reciprocal representative offices, facilitation of cross-strait goods in trade and a dispute resolution mechanism.

This is the second official meeting between Hsia and Zhang after their Kinmen County talks in May.

“We expect significant headway to be made in cross-strait peace and prosperity through regular interactions and negotiations enabled by the two-way visits,” Hsia said. “On this basis, we will continue strengthening communication with all sectors of society and ensure meetings take places in an equitable and dignified manner as per the expectations of the people of Taiwan.”

According to a recent MAC survey, 72.3 percent of the public are in favor of institutionalizing cross-strait exchanges, and 68.1 percent support Hsia’s trip to mainland China.

Other matters likely to be broached during the meeting include Taipei’s concern over the decision by Beijing to implement e-travel passes for ROC nationals in place of paper-based ones.

“We have repeatedly voiced our discontent to our mainland Chinese counterparts on this issue and will keep a close eye on related developments,” Hsia said.

In addition, a timetable for allowing mainland Chinese to transit through Taiwan is set for further discussion, with the MAC aiming to have an agreement in place enabling the scheme to be up and running by year-end.

Hsia is scheduled to leave for Guangzhou Oct. 13 and visit the city of Dongguan after the meeting. He will meet with ROC students and businessmen in both cities before returning Oct. 15 to Taiwan.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237280&ctNode=2194&mp=9)