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Taiwan says China talks to resume | Taiwan says China talks to resume |
(30 minutes later) | |
Taiwan and Beijing will resume direct talks next month for the first time in a decade, the chairwoman of the island's Mainland Affairs Council says. | Taiwan and Beijing will resume direct talks next month for the first time in a decade, the chairwoman of the island's Mainland Affairs Council says. |
Lai Shin-yuan told reporters: "You will see very soon in June the beginning of institutional negotiations between the two sides." | Lai Shin-yuan told reporters: "You will see very soon in June the beginning of institutional negotiations between the two sides." |
There has been no comment so far on the subject from Beijing. | There has been no comment so far on the subject from Beijing. |
Earlier this week a new president, Ma Ying-jeou, took office in Taiwan. He wants better ties with China. | Earlier this week a new president, Ma Ying-jeou, took office in Taiwan. He wants better ties with China. |
Two days later, on Thursday, a top Chinese official, Chen Yunlin, said there had been "major positive changes" in the Taiwan situation. | Two days later, on Thursday, a top Chinese official, Chen Yunlin, said there had been "major positive changes" in the Taiwan situation. |
Lai Shin-yuan said she was cautiously optimistic that direct transport links between the two sides, which were halted in 1949, could resume by July. | |
Goodwill | |
This could mean weekend charter flights of passengers and cargo, and more Chinese tourists being allowed to visit. | |
"The July timetable", she told reporters, "is a realistic anticipation, and it is not based on wishful thinking". | |
The BBC's correspondent in Taipei says Ms Lai also said both sides had shown goodwill and were speaking the same language on the issue. | |
China and Taiwan have been ruled by separate governments since Mao Zedong's Communists won the Chinese civil war in 1949, and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island. | |
China sees the island as a breakaway province which should be reunified, by force if necessary. |
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