Mainland, Taiwan near investment protection deal

BEIJING - A senior mainland official confirmed Sunday that the consultation of the long-awaited cross-Straits investment protection agreement has almost finished.

Major concerns from both sides have been fully presented and carefully addressed in the talks, said Wang Yi, director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, at an event in Beijing.

Currently negotiators from the two sides are still discussing the last few details related to the wording of the agreement, he said.

"This will be an agreement fully reflecting the reality across the Straits," he said. "I believe the agreement, if signed, will effectively speed up the follow-up talks of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and benefit people on both sides, especially Taiwan people."