Chen Yunlin (L), president of ARATS, and Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the SEF, exchange agreement book on December 23, 2009. [Photo: Xinhua]

Hello and welcome to this edition of CRI Roundup brought to you by China Radio International. I am Damin in Beijing.

In this week's program, we will focus on the latest round of talks between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Details to follow - don't go away.

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan ended a new round of talks Tuesday in central Taiwan's Taichung city.

The two sides agreed to cooperate in farm produce quarantine and the cross-Strait employment of fishermen, as well as to deal with different product quality standards.

Negotiations between the mainland-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, or ARATS and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation have helped sign 12 agreements and reach one consensus between the mainland and Taiwan, all of which were aimed for peace and economic prosperity of both sides.

In the previous three rounds of talks since June 2008, the two sides reached nine agreements concerning transport, trade, tourism, cooperation in finance and fighting crime among other issues.

Chen Yunlin, president of ARATS, said both sides have done many things in the past one and half years that should have been done long before and the mainland will work with the island to make sure the agreements are implemented and to close loopholes.

However, Chen said there was room for improvement and both sides needed to carry out further negotiations. He said the fourth round of talks had avoided signing the double taxation agreement, which he assured the two sides will put more effort in the further negotiation.

"The reason why we did not sign the double taxation agreement is the delayed preparation work. The double taxation is a very complex issue which needs lots of technical matters to be discussed. The two sides have the feeling there is a lack of the communication and negotiation on this issue. So we put it to the next round of talks to solve this issue."

Chen's Taiwan counterpart Chiang Pin-kun, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, also called for both sides across the Taiwan Strait to continue efforts to push for the development of systematic talks and promote cross-Strait communication and cooperation.

Since June, mainland businesses have been able to invest in Taiwan in the sectors of herbal medicine, automobiles, wholesales, retail and tourism. But those sectors like real estate development, finance and telecommunication, which many mainland companies are interested in, are still not on the list.

With mainland investment in Taiwan not as satisfying as expected since restrictions were lifted, Taiwan's authorities held a symposium on Wednesday to attract more mainland investors to the island.

Chiang Pin-kun admitted that not many mainland investors have entered Taiwan, and the island is trying to address this.

"At the very beginning, a limited number of sectors were open to them. In addition, many mainland investors are not yet familiar with the local market and business practices. That's why so far not many mainland investors have started doing business in Taiwan."

Chiang said Taiwan and mainland must jointly tackle economic challenges, and the establishment of a cross-Strait economic framework should not be delayed, calling on both sides to contribute to economic prosperity and development as well as long-term peace and stability.

Chen Yunlin said Taiwan shouldn't be afraid of competition because the mainland's manufacturing advantage and Taiwan's advanced marketing can complement each other.

Kao Kong-Lian, vice chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation, echoed his sentiments. He said the two-way investment across the strait will help the mainland and Taiwan take the lead to recover from the global financial crisis.

"The two-way investment will definitely create more opportunities for the two sides, so that they can become driving forces of the global economy."

During his 5-day trip to the island, Chen Yunlin also visited a typhoon-hit village in central Taiwan. He conveyed sympathies on behalf of all mainlanders while he was being briefed about the reconstruction work.

He stressed that compatriots across the Taiwan Straits had time and again helped each other in times of disaster.

Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit the island in nearly five decades, killed more than 600 people and wreaked havoc across central and southern Taiwan.

The mainland donated over 115 million US dollar and relief material including prefabricated houses to help the victims.

The next round of talks will be held next year on the mainland.

And with that, we conclude this edition of CRI Roundup. If you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to listen to any of our programs, you can visit our website at Crienglish.com.

I'm Damin in Beijing. Thank you for listening, and stay tuned for more on China Radio International.