Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) The engagements this year between Taiwan and China could become more complex because of two major upcoming political events, but the talks between the two sides are expected to continue smoothly, Taiwan's top negotiator with China said Monday.
Taiwan's presidential election in 2012 and a transfer of power in China in 2013 "could complicate cross-Taiwan Strait negotiations, but 'professionalism' has been the keyword in the talks so far, " said Chiang Pin-kung, Chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) at a press conference.
"I think the talks will keep moving forward," he said.
Kuomintang President Ma Ying-jeou is seen highly likely to seek re-election next year when his four-year term expires, while Chinese President Hu Jintao, who was officially appointed to his second five-year term in 2008, is required to step down in 2013.
Chiang did not elaborate on what he thought the exact effects of the two events would be, but said cross-strait engagements are likely to become more difficult this year as "the easier part has been completed."
However, he said an investment protection agreement that was shelved in the sixth round of bilateral talks last December is expected to be signed in May or June, and both sides should have no problem reaching an agreement on trade dispute settlement this year as well.
As for agreements on trade in goods and services, they will take at least a year to negotiate due to their complexity, he added.
Meanwhile, negotiations are in progress on a proposal to allow visits to Taiwan by individual Chinese tourists, and it is expected to be implemented this year, but it will be a gradual process, he said.
He reiterated that the "1992 Consensus" -- also known as "one China, different interpretations" -- has laid the foundation for the resumption of institutionalized talks across the strait.
Chen Yunlin, Chiang's counterpart who chairs China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) , said in a meeting with Taiwanese businessmen last week that China's economic policy toward Taiwan is based on a political premise that the two sides uphold the "1992 consensus" and are opposed to the idea of Taiwan independence.
However, at Monday's press conference, Chiang made no mention of the Taiwan independence issue.
He highlighted what he described as the unprecedented achievements of the Ma Administration over the last two years, including a landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement and 14 other accords with China. (By Chris Wang) enditem /pc