查看完整版本: ECFA May Be Signed in Mid-Year

ECFA May Be Signed in Mid-Year

Taiwan and China are expected to sign the cross-Taiwan Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) in May or June, said Chen Yunlin, chairman of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), yesterday (March 4). <BR><BR>Chen made the remark in responding to the inquiries from the press when attending a meeting of National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference, for which he is a member. It was the first time for a Chinese official in charge to put forth a definite schedule for the inking of ECFA. <BR><BR>The schedule, however, is somewhat later than the expectation of Taiwan, which hopes to sign the agreement in April or May, during the fifth talk between P.K. Chiang, chairman of Straits Exchange Foundation, and Chen Yunlin. <BR><BR>Chen noted that China is harboring a proactive stance for the signing of ECFA, stressing that both sides are now stepping up their efforts to achieve the goal. <BR><BR>China will take Taiwanese people`s concerns into account fully during the ECFA talk, said Chen, who pointed to the conciliatory statement made by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao on the issue recently. <BR>