As preparations intensify for discussions on direct transport links with China, a high-level Chinese delegation arrived in Taiwan yesterday to attend a one-day academic seminar tomorrow on the legal aspects of aviation accidents, with a particular focus on possible cross-strait flights.
Bao Peide (鮑培德), one of the five deputy directors of Beijing's Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), is heading the delegation comprising officials from China's State Council and the CAAC, one academic and senior executives of China's three largest civil airlines -- Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.
Media speculation suggested that the delegation might meet Taiwan's officials to discuss cross-strait direct transportation but officials on both sides adopted a low profile and declined to comment on the matter yesterday.
Asked on his arrival at CKS International Airport whether Chinese civil airlines were ready to fly to Taipei, Bao said, "I hope one day they will," a TV report said yesterday.
Bao declined to answer further questions about whether they would exchange views with their Taiwan counterparts on direct air links between Taiwan and China during their estimated eight to 10 day stay in Taiwan.
The delegation was invited by the Taipei-based academic group, the Chinese Society of Comparative Law (
It is expected that officials from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the Civil Aeronautics Administration under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications as well as local air carriers will attend tomorrow's seminar.
MAC Vice Chairman Chen Ming-tong (陳明通) told reporters Friday Taipei would take steps to open direct links with China by inviting them sit down to talk after a comprehensive study on the technicalities of liberalization was completed in the end of November.
Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen (錢其琛) last month backed down on Beijing's previous preconditions to talks that Taipei accept its "one China" policy.
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