U.S. welcomes resumption of cross-Straits talks

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday welcomed the resumption of talks between the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

"We believe it's important for the two to work toward a peaceful resolution of the cross-Strait issues," Gonzalo Gallegos, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said at a news briefing.

"Our understanding is that they had a good conversation. And we are hoping that they will continue in the future," he added.

ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin and SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kun held their talks in Beijing Thursday morning. It was the first round of talks between the ARATS and the SEF in nine years.