Top China negotiator visits Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Taiwan prepared Monday for a five-day visit by China's top Cross-Straits negotiator Chen Yunlin, whose trip is being seen as historic.

Chen is chairman of China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait. His visit to the island nation comes after the two countries opened their first direct dialogue in a decade. Chen's counterpart in Taiwan, Chaing Pin-kung, who heads the Straits Exchange Foundation, visited Beijing in June.

Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou, who came to power after campaigning for improving trade and other ties with China, told Taipei Times he planned to meet with Chen during his five-day trip.

"The meeting will provide an important basis to promote cross-strait peace," he said.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted Wang Yi, director of the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office as saying the visit "is of historical significance and is a key step marking the development of cross-strait relations."

Heavy security was in place for Chen's arrival in Taipei, the Times said. The Chinese official was expected to conclude four agreements on food safety, direct air and shipping links and direct postal services. Taiwan already has widened tourism links with China.

"I think China will emerge as the winner in the talks by pulling off a major propaganda coup with Taiwan," one analyst told the Times.

China has always claimed Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if Taiwan declares formal independence.