Cross-strait offices added to ARATS-SEF negotiation agenda

BEIJING, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and its Taiwanese counterpart, the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), have agreed to add the possible establishment of cross-strait offices to their negotiation agenda.

Following a meeting between the vice secretary-generals of the two organizations, both sides agreed to discuss the matter in due time, sources from ARATS said Thursday.

The two organizations, which are entrusted with handling cross-strait affairs, agreed that the purpose of setting up the offices would be to serve people from both sides of the strait and promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

According to ARATS, the two sides also discussed the functions of such offices.

Both sides also exchanged ideas concerning issues in culture, education, economics, trade, communication and emergency relief.

ARATS vowed to keep a positive attitude in pushing for the establishment of the offices, as well as strive to make related breakthroughs within the year.

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