Zheng Lizhong (L), vice president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) shakes hands with Kao Koong-lian, vice chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) during a meeting to review the implementation of cross-Strait agreements and address any possible issues, in Taipei, south China's Taiwan, June 8, 2011. (Xinhua/Li Mingfang)
TAIPEI -- Negotiators from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan held a meeting in Taipei Wednesday to review the implementation of cross-Strait agreements and address any possible issues.
It was the first time for negotiators from the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) to hold such a meeting, Zheng Lizhong, vice president of ARATS, said before the talks.
"I believe the meeting will help improve the implementation of these pacts," he said.
The two sides have sealed 15 pacts since resuming regular talks in 2008.
Negotiators will review all agreements except the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), which will be handled by another independent committee. An agreement on medical and health cooperation, which has not yet taken effect, is also off the table, Zheng said.
The agreements cover issues such as cross-Strait air services, food security, financial cooperation, agricultural quarantine procedures and judicial cooperation.
"It is understandable that we are facing new situations and problems during the implementation of these agreements. Both sides have been actively engaged in dealing with these problems," he said.
