China, Taiwan sign medical cooperation pact - 2nd Update

Tue, 21 Dec 2010

Taipei - Taiwan and China on Tuesday signed a medical cooperation pact to reflect increased trade and tourism across the Taiwan Strait.

It calls for cooperation in medical research and quarantine, and to ensure the safety of food products.

This is the sixth dialogue since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in 2008 with an agenda to improve relations with Beijing through economic integration.

During Tuesday's talks, the two sides also discussed investment guarantees and an Economics Cooperation Council, which could be launched next year. Dozens of Taiwan demonstrators clashed with police as they tried to enter the Taipei Grand Hotel, where the dialogue was held.

The protesters said the deals with Beijing could sacrifice Taiwan's interests.

Taiwan and China split at the end of a civil war in 1949. Beijing considers Taiwan its breakaway province and has vowed to recover the island by force if Taipei formally declares independence.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/359104,pact-2nd-update.html.