Mainland, Taiwan sign agreement on weekend chartered flights

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Source: CCTV.com | 06-13-2008 13:14

Two new agreements have been signed between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan island. One agreement opens the way for weekend cross-Straits chartered flights and the other allows mainland tourists to travel to Taiwan.

Chen Yunlin (R), chairman of Chinese mainland's Association  for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), and Chiang  Pin-kun, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange  Foundation (SEF), shake hands after signing the agreements  on cross-Strait weekend charted flights and mainland  tourists' traveling to Taiwan, in Beijing, China, June 13,  2008.(Xinhua Photo)

The agreements are widely regarded as a major development from talks between the mainland-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits and Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation. They will take effect 7 days from the date of the signing of the documents.

The Chairman of the mainland-based Association for Relations across the Taiwan Straits, Chen Yunlin and the Chairman of Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation,Chiang Pin-kun signed the agreements on Friday morning at the Diaoyutai State Guest house.

Senior officials from the two associations attended the signing ceremony. After signing the agreements, the chairmen took group photos with the two delegations and celebrated with champagne.