The period between now and July is the best window of opportunity to make progress in cross-strait negotiations, Mainland Affairs Council Vice Chairman Tung Chen-yuan (童振源) said yesterday.
Taiwan's government has done its utmost to promote better cross-strait economic interaction, but China has been at turns unresponsive or obstructive, Tung said.
Since the primaries for the 2008 presidential election and the nominations for legislative elections may complicate cross-strait relations when they begin this summer, he suggested that the next six months would be a good opportunity for both sides to finish negotiations on cross-strait charter flights for passengers and goods as well as opening up to Chinese tourists.
Tung urged China to talk to Taiwan and "find common ground on these two issues."
Tung made the remarks during a discussion forum hosted by the Democratic Progressive Party's Department of Chinese Affairs.
The forum discussed the prospects for developments in economic affairs and trade between Taiwan and China this year and invited experts in Chinese affairs to share their views.
Chang Wu-yueh (張五岳), a professor at Tamkang University's Institute of China Research, said that adopting the "Macau Model," which was implemented when both sides reached an agreement on Lunar New Year charter flights last year, was the best way to resume cross-strait negotiations.
The Macau Model refers to the practice where both sides authorize representatives with governmental power to negotiate on the issue under names that both sides can accept.
"Without negotiations that are recognized by the governments of both sides, it will be difficult to make progress or normalize cross-strait economic interaction this year," Chang said.
Travel agencies in Taiwan are working to secure alternative flights for travelers bound for New Zealand for the Lunar New Year holiday, as Air New Zealand workers are set to strike next week. The airline said that it has confirmed that the planned industrial action by its international wide-body cabin crew would go ahead on Thursday and Friday next week. While the Auckland-based carrier pledged to take reasonable measures to mitigate the impact of the workers’ strike, an Air New Zealand flight arriving at Taipei from Auckland on Thursday and another flight departing from Taipei for Auckland on Saturday would have to
The Taipei City Government yesterday confirmed that it has negotiated a royalties of NT$12.2 billion (US$380 million) with artificial intelligence (AI) chip giant Nvidia Corp, with the earliest possible signing date set for Wednesday next week. The city has been preparing for Nvidia to build its Taiwan headquarters in Beitou-Shilin Technology Park since last year, and the project has now entered its final stage before the contract is signed. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city government has completed the royalty price negotiations and would now push through the remaining procedures to sign the contract before
Taipei Zoo welcomes the Lunar New Year this year through its efforts to protect an endangered species of horse native to central Asia that was once fully extinct outside of captivity. The festival ushering in the Year of the Horse would draw attention to the zoo’s four specimens of Przewalski’s horse, named for a Russian geographer who first encountered them in the late 19th century across the steppes of western Mongolia. “Visitors will look at the horses and think that since this is the Year of the Horse: ‘I want to get to know horses,’” said zookeeper Chen Yun-chieh, who has been
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday said the name of the Taiwanese Representative Office in Lithuania was agreed by both sides, after Lithuania’s prime minister described a 2021 decision to let Taiwan set up a de facto embassy in Vilnius as a “mistake.” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene, who entered office in September last year, told the Baltic News Service on Tuesday that Lithuania had begun taking “small first steps” aimed at restoring ties with Beijing. The ministry in a statement said that Taiwan and Lithuania are important partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. Since the establishment of the
RSS