Mainland, Taiwan hold negotiation on allowing layovers

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland and Taiwan on Wednesday held initial negotiations on allowing mainland air travelers to transit in Taiwan.

The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and its Taiwan counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation, met in Beijing, according to a document issued after negotiations on Thursday.

The two sides exchanged views and concerns during the event, the document said, adding that both sides believed the experience to be practical and constructive.

The two sides have agreed to work together to advance toward the attainment of the goal.

Both sides agreed more agreements were needed regarding measures to facilitate cross-Strait travel, the document said.

The negotiation was arranged according to agreements reached between Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, Wang Yu-chi, during their meeting on Nov 12 in Beijing.