Premier Hsieh: Plan for Cross-Strait Cargo Charter Flights

　　On June 13, Premier Frank Hsieh said that, to pragmatically face the need of the exchange of people and commerce across the Taiwan Strait, the Executive Yuan had charged relevant agencies to work under the principle of “Reconciliation with no retreat; firmness with no confrontation” to carry out the issues of cross-strait cargo charter flights, the sale of Taiwan agricultural products to the mainland, and tourist travel to Taiwan by mainland Chinese, etc.

　　The Premier made his statement at a Dragon Boat Festival dinner for representatives from Taiwan business associations in the mainland. In the area of cargo charter flights, he noted that the Mainland Affairs Council had been instructed, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and other relevant agencies, to carry out concrete planning on the negotiating model used for Chinese New Year charter flights through Macao in regard to negotiation details for “two-way non-stop flights operated by both sides.” He also asked the Taipei Airlines Association to help with liaison and arrangements concerning the negotiations, and expressed the hope that the mainland side would reply soon with a positive response so that the facilitation of cargo flights could be realized quickly.

　　With regard to the sale of Taiwanese agricultural products to the mainland, the Premier also gave instructions to the Mainland Affairs Council to work with the Council of Agriculture (COA) and other agencies to carry out planning work and to organize a professional negotiating team. He also asked the COA to designate the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), which is richly experienced in international marketing, to serve as an integration window, while the various local farmers’ associations coordinate the supply of products and TAITRA helps with sales to mainland China and other export markets.

　　In the relaxation of travel to Taiwan by mainland Chinese nationals, Premier Hsieh expressed pleasure with the recent announcement by the mainland Chinese authorities that their nationals would be allowed to travel to Taiwan for tourism. He instructed the Mainland Affairs Council to work with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and other agencies to carry out planning for negotiations as quickly as possible, to organize a negotiating team, and to engage in liaison and arrangements for negotiations through appropriate methods of organizations. He hoped to see a friendly response from the mainland authorities by means of concrete action, he said, so that more mainlanders could enjoy the beautiful experiences of touring Taiwan.

　　The Premier emphasized that the goal of the government is to realize the peaceful development of ties and improved relations across the Taiwan Strait. The three policy pronouncements described above, he commented, illustrate Taiwan’s good intentions and sincerity in promoting peaceful relations across the Strait. He appealed to the mainland authorities to respect Taiwan’s system of government and enter into substantive negotiations with Taiwan as soon as possible. For the full text of the Premier’s speech, please go online and visit http://www.ey.gov.tw/web92/news/Wce36f5117c8f7.htm.

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