Taipei wants deal with Beijing over cargo charter flights
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian yesterday called on China to discuss launching direct cargo charter flights with the island.
He said the historic, two-way passenger charter flights during the Lunar New Year had opened a window of opportunity for the two states to move towards cross-strait reconciliation.
Speaking to more than 400 guests, including leading Taiwanese businessmen based in the mainland, President Chen said the success of the direct cross-strait charter flights had established a model for further co-operation between the two sides.
The business community had long desired direct cargo charter flights. Foreign companies UPS and FedEx, are also interested.
A spokeswoman for UPS urged the Taiwanese government yesterday to allow foreign firms to join in direct cargo flights, if they were launched.
Chen did not limit himself to cargo flights; he also said that Taiwan was ready to hold talks with the mainland on "any other issues".
It is clear that Mr Chen is trying to reduce tensions between China and Taiwan which have built up over the recent past, especially after Beijing said it would adopt anti-secession law that would clip Taiwan's separatist wings.
Chen said that his island "would have a firm position but a pragmatic approach" that could become the basis for dialogue and perhaps reconciliation.
Taiwan had proposed direct cargo charter flights in 2003, but China ignored it on the grounds that it was a unilateral proposal from Taipei rather than a reciprocal scheme.
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