Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) Chairman Chen Yunlin (陳雲林) will lead a cultural exchange delegation to Taiwan for 10 days in the middle of this month, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) said yesterday.
Chen and his delegation will seek to draw on Taiwan’s experience in the creative industry after the association set up a center in Taiwan in June for exchanges in the field of calligraphy and art, the SEF said. The delegation’s visit, from Monday to Sept. 19, will include trips to Penghu and Kinmen and also to Hualien, the SEF said.
During Chen’s last meeting in Taiwan with his counterpart, SEF Chairman Chiang Pin-kung (江丙坤), the Chinese negotiator expressed an interest in visiting Hualien on the east coast, but the idea was quashed because of an approaching typhoon.
“Chen then suggested that he visit Taiwan again soon after the recent cross-strait negotiations,” SEF spokesman Maa Shaw-chang (馬紹章) said, referring to the finalization of an investment protection pact and a customs cooperation agreement between Taiwan and China last month.
Chen also will also tour the greater Taipei area and Taoyuan County, Greater Taichung, Greater Kaohisung and Kenting National Park, the SEF said.
Chiang and SEF Deputy Chairman Kao Koong-lian (高孔廉) may accompany the Chinese delegation on some of those tours, the SEF said. It may be Chen’s last visit to Taiwan in his capacity as ARATS head, as he is likely to be reassigned when the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party convenes this fall.
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