Financial issues will be the top priority in cross-strait talks next year, Taiwan’s top negotiator with China said yesterday.
Straits Exchange Foundation Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤) made the remarks while addressing an economic forum organized by the Taipei-based Association for Strategic Development of the Chinese Economic Region.
The issues up for discussion will include the signing of memorandums of understanding on bank and securities supervision, he said.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance are also working on an agreement aimed at protecting China-based Taiwanese businesspeople’s investments in China and a plan for avoiding double taxation, he said.
It was hoped that these issues could top the agenda of next year’s cross-strait talks, he said.
Chiang also expressed hope that the second round of cross-strait talks for this year would take place next month.
During the high-profile talks, the two sides would focus on cross-strait transport links, he said.
For example, delegates would attempt to convert a deal on weekend charter flights into a plan for regularly scheduled flights that would operate on weekdays, Chiang said.
An increase in the number of flights and cities served, as well as the opening of charter cargo flights and direct shipping links would be discussed, he added.
The talks would also focus on cooperation in fighting crime, conducting oil and gas exploration and weather research, and studying techniques for dealing with earthquakes, Chiang said.
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