A delegation headed by Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chairman Chiang Pin-kung arrived here Wednesday noon for a new round of talks with mainland negotiators.
The delegation was warmly welcomed in China's northern city of Tianjin by the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) President Chen Yunlin.
The mainland and Taiwan negotiators will exchange views on cross-Strait cooperation in nuclear safety and hopefully an agreement in this regard will be signed during the talks, Chen said at a welcoming ceremony in honor of Chiang.
"We hope the signing of the agreement will lead to the establishment of a nuclear safety reporting system between the two sides, promote cooperation among nuclear safety organizations and strengthen exchanges of experiences in nuclear safety regulation and supervision," Chen said.
Nuclear safety matters to the health, survival and common development of the compatriots on both sides of the Strait, he said.
Chen said the two sides will also continue the discussion about an investment protection agreement and exchange opinions about cross-Strait industrial cooperation.
The ARATS and the SEF have essentially reached a consensus on the contents in the investment protection agreement.
However, both sides think more time is needed in signing such an agreement to streamline the collaboration and communication between the two sides, as this agreement concerns multiple sectors and departments and requires highly professional considerations, Chen said.
The two sides will continue to make joint and active efforts to advance the negotiation in the last stage, and the agreement is expected to be signed during the eighth round of talks, he said.
Chiang said he appreciates the necessity of signing the agreement on cross-Strait nuclear safety cooperation, and cooperation in this field will help to prevent possible risks.
The two sides will also make efforts in respect of the investment protection agreement, Chiang said.
Moreover, Chiang said the negotiators will exchange opinions about the implementation of the previously-signed agreements.
A preparatory consultation between the two sides for the new round of talks was held Wednesday afternoon, and the talks are scheduled for Thursday.
.jpg)
