Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Andrew Hsia says he might visit China in September to meet with his Chinese counterpart Zhang Zhijun. Zhang is the head of China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.
Hsia was speaking Wednesday with the media in Washington, where he is attending a symposium on cross-strait ties.
Hsia said that Taiwan’s ties with China are at their best point since President Ma Ying-jeou took office seven years ago. Hsia also said that the MAC will continue pushing for “institutionalized” cross-strait talks.
However, Hsia urged China to pay close attention to the opinions of the Taiwanese people on controversial issues. These include China’s M503 air route, which runs close to Taiwan and the Chinese decision to introduce ID card-like entry permits for Taiwanese travelling to the Mainland.
Hsia said he hopes that the two sides will be able to sign a taxation pact and an airworthiness cooperation agreement at high-level cross-strait talks scheduled for the end of August. Hsia also said another issue on the agenda is the possibility of allowing Chinese tourists to make transit stops in Taiwan’s airports.