MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Historic high level talks between Taiwan and Beijing in Taipei

Taiwan and China held their first high-level talks in Taipei in 60 years on Tuesday, with communications, transport and food safety high in the agenda.

The historic event between negotiators Chen Yunlin of China and P.K. Chiang of Taiwan will help chart future rounds of talks, which are tentatively scheduled for early 2009. Chen, the highest-level Chinese official to land in Taiwan (the "renegade" province according to Beijing) since 1949, is due to sign 13 agreements between the two sides despite protests from Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which favours putting distance between the island and China and a formal declaration of independence. Beijing has claimed sovereignty over democratic Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's KMT fled to Taiwan. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan under its rule, by force if necessary. The negotiators, who met in a festive environment at a heavily guarded hillside hotel, have indicated they will not discuss knotty political issues during the visit through Friday. Ties have warmed rapidly since China-friendly Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou took office in May. Thousands of demonstrators led by the DPP spent a night on the streets of central Taipei, accusing Taiwan of selling out to China and criticizing Chen's red-carpet treatment. They plan to camp out until Thursday. Chen said he had "heard the protesters" and that "some day we will get their consent," Taipei media reported on Tuesday.