ARATS and the SEF promote cross-Strait ties

Both groups engaged in the talks are authorized non-governmental organizations. They've contributed to cross-strait ties.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, or ARATS, was established in Beijing in 1991, with Wang Daohan as the first chairman.

The Straits Exchange Foundation, or S-E-F, was established in Taipei in 1990. Koo Chen-fu was elected the foundation's chairman.

The two organizations were established to deal with issues in the relationship across the Taiwan Straits.

In 1992, ARATS and the S-E-F held a formal discussion in Hong Kong that resulted in the "1992 Consensus." It laid the foundation for subsequent talks between the groups.

In 1993, Wang Daohan and Koo Chen-fu held the historic "Wang-Koo meeting" in Singapore, the first cross-Straits meeting between leaders of the two authorized non governmental organizations.

Discussions ranged from cross-Straits economic exchanges to mail, trade and transportation services, as well as labor and technological cooperation.

The two sides eventually held more than 20 meetings at different levels, an achievement applauded by people on both sides of the Straits and the international community.

Consultations between the two organizations stopped in 1995, when former Taiwan leader Lee Teng-hui began to pursue "Taiwan Independence".

Tensions eased after Hong Kong returned to the motherland in 1997. Wang and Koo resumed discussions in 1998 in Shanghai, and agreed to continue political and economic talks.

But once again, talks were blocked in 1999 by Lee Teng-hui's separatist behavior.

Wang Daohan and Koo Chen-fu both passed away in 2005, but the positive effects of the "Wang-Koo meeting" continued to promote cross-Straits ties.

Things changed for the better in March, when Kuomintang candidate, Ma Ying-jeou was elected as Taiwan's leader.

On May 26th, Kuomintang Vice Chairman Chiang Pin-kun was elected S-E-F chairman. He said that on the basis of the "1992 Consensus", the S-E-F was already authorized by Taiwan authorities to resume cross-Straits talks with the mainland-based ARATS.

On May 29, ARATS sent a letter to the S-E-F, inviting Chairman Chiang Pin-kun and Vice Chairman and Secretary-General Kao Koong-lian to visit Beijing in June. Talks would focus on cross-Straits weekend charter flights and mainland tourist travel to Taiwan.

The S-E-F accepted the invitation for talks on the same day, and Chiang said he expected to reach agreement during the talks.

Chen Yunlin, former director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was elected ARATS chairman on June 3.

A delegation headed by S-E-F Chairman Chiang Pin-kun arrived in Beijing on Wednesday for the first talks between the groups since contact was broken nine years ago.