EU welcomes resumption of cross-Straits talks in China

BELGRADE, June 14 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) on Friday welcomed the resumption of cross-Straits talks between the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

"The EU presidency warmly welcomes the re-establishment of dialogue between the Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Beijing on June 12," a statement from the Slovenian EU presidency said.

"The talks, revived after almost 10 years, represent a significant step towards closer relations and the establishment of trust between the two sides," the statement said.

It hailed the two agreements signed by the ARATS and the SEF as being significant contributions to "the strengthening of friendly ties between the people of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, and to the development of economic, cultural and social ties."

ARATS chairman Chen Yunlin and SEF chairman Chiang Pin-kun held their talks in Beijing Thursday morning. On Friday, the ARATS and SEF signed a agreement on weekend chartered flights and another that allows mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan.