Meeting between Hu, Vincent Siew 'better than expected'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-14 22:49

LONDON - The meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vincent Siew, chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation, on the sidelines of an economic forum in the southern Chinese resort town of Boao on Saturday went "much better than anticipated," the Financial Times reported Monday.

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan are expected to move quickly to begin a new round of talks and economic cooperation after the two set a "surprisingly concrete agenda" for dialogue in the "landmark" meeting at the weekend, the daily said.

The newspaper said that according to China's official account, Hu said that under the "new situation," China would push for the resumption of dialogue.

He also said Beijing will continue to push for talks on allowing cross-Strait charter flights and making it possible for mainland residents to visit Taiwan as tourists.

The resumption of dialogue will come "faster than expected", the Financial Times commented.

Analysts expect unofficial, technical negotiations on charter flights and tourism links to begin next month, the report said.



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