TAIPEI, Taiwan — A Taiwanese official said today that envoys from China and Taiwan have agreed to hold high-level talks every six months.
Kao Koong-lian said the negotiators reached the agreement as they wrapped up historic trade talks in the Taiwanese capital, Taipei.
The envoys were still expected to sign a sweeping agreement later in the day that would allow direct shipping links across the Taiwan Strait and expand the number of weekly passenger flights.
Kao said the next round of talks will focus on financial cooperation. He said the two sides will aim to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing banks to set up branches on each sides.
The highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan in six decades got a taste of the island’s raucous democracy Monday as China protesters waved signs, called him a communist bandit and rallied outside the legislature.
The Chinese envoy, Chen Yunlin, was mostly insulated from the noisy crowds of Taiwan independence supporters, who were blocked or dragged away by security forces. About 5,000 police were guarding the capital, Taipei, during Chen’s five-day trip.
“I am bringing the goodwill wishes to Taiwan’s 23 million compatriots from the mainland’s 1.3 billion people,” said Chen, head of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, a quasi-government agency that negotiates with the island.
Making sure that Chen’s visit went smoothly was extremely important to Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. He was elected in March, promising voters he would ease tensions with China and forge closer trade ties with the huge neighbor, just 100 miles across the Taiwan Strait.
China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since the Communists won a bloody civil war in 1949 and took over the mainland.
Beijing has demanded that Taiwan eventually unify or face a punishing attack. The threat has made the Taiwan Strait one of Asia’s most dangerous potential flash points.
