Taiwan, China resume formal talks in Beijing
Updated
![Chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, Chiang Pin-kun (L), is greeted by the vice chairman of the China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Zheng Lizhong. [AFP]](http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/img/news/gallery/taiwan_china_meet_afp_11060.jpg "Chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, Chiang Pin-kun (L), is greeted by the vice chairman of the China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Zheng Lizhong. [AFP]")
Chairman of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, Chiang Pin-kun (L), is greeted by the vice chairman of the China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Zheng Lizhong. [AFP]
China and Taiwan have begun their first direct talks in a decade in Beijing.
The two rivals are seeking to build on a recent improvement in once icy cross-strait relations.
The delegation leader from Taiwan, Chiang Pin-kun, is looking to rekindle direct trade and transport exchanges for the first time since they split in 1949 after a civil war.
He is holding talks with his Chinese counterpart, Chen Yunlin, in which both sides will discuss launching weekend charter flights between China and Taiwan, and allowing more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan.
The Xinhua news agency says both parties will sign an agreement on Friday when Mr Chiang will reportedly meet President Hu Jintao.
Dialogue was suspended in 1999 as Taiwan's leaders began to lean towards formal independence, angering China's government.
