Deals open idea to end Straits ill-will

Despite a fruitful beginning to build economic ties across the Straits, the rhetoric of Beijing and Taipei officials indicated there is a long way to go before political discussions to end hostility commence.

Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top envoy to Taiwan as president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), said economic issues remain the key to cross-Straits talks.

But he also said close economic cooperation could inject momentum to peacefully develop bilateral ties.