Premier Mao Chi-kuo today commended Taiwan's negotiation team on a job well done after they concluded the 11th round of high-level cross-straits talks in mainland China Tuesday, bringing home two signed agreements on double taxation avoidance and aviation safety.
The premier thanked the entire team as they visited the Executive Yuan this afternoon to deliver a briefing of the meeting's outcomes. The delegation was comprised of representatives from the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC), the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
After the report by MAC Minister Andrew Hsia and SEF Chairman Lin Join-sane, Premier Mao said the double taxation avoidance agreement is expected to lower tax burdens on individuals and companies, which will help Taiwanese businesses compete on the mainland and make Taiwan's investment environment more attractive. The aviation safety agreement, meanwhile, will enhance the safety and efficiency of flight operations and spur growth in the cross-strait aviation industry. The conclusion of the two pacts has wide benefits for citizens, companies as well as the government, he added.
Looking ahead, cross-strait negotiations will focus on trade in goods, dispute resolution, environmental cooperation, and the opening of reciprocal representative offices—topics that are integrally related to the well-being of Taiwan's economy, its people, and its relationship to the mainland. He directed agencies to prepare diligently and to negotiate the best terms for Taiwan.
Institutionalized cross-strait talks have entered a normalized stage, Mao continued, and the topics that concern each side will only become more complicated with steeper challenges. He hopes agencies will uphold the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people," and address pressing matters before less pressing ones, easily resolved issues before difficult ones, and economic matters before political ones.
"Promoting institutionalized talks will lay a solid foundation for peace across the Taiwan Strait and allow all citizens to enjoy the fruits of a growing cross-strait relationship."