Rare animals, plants boost ties

TAIPEI: The Chinese mainland and Taiwan exchanged rare animals and plants yesterday in a sign of warmer cross-Straits ties.

Top negotiators from both sides announced the move at a ceremony, two days after they signed four historic deals on air and sea transport, postal services and food safety.

The mainland gave Taiwan two giant pandas and gongtong (Davidia involucrata) seedlings, receiving long-mane goats and spotted deer in return.