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TAIPEI: The head of Taiwan's top China policy body said on Thursday he was confident of an agreement with Beijing to expand tourism and open direct air links no matter who wins the weekend presidential vote.
"I anticipate that after the election, both sides will gradually resume the negotiations... on passenger and cargo charter flights and tourism expansion," said Chen Ming-tong, who chairs the Mainland Affairs Council.
"We have consensus on the technical issues, but Beijing has its political considerations before the election," he said, as it was "unwilling to give the Democratic Progressive Party or its candidate the credit."
Saturday's election pits the ruling DPP's candidate Frank Hsieh against Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT).
Taiwan has banned direct trade and transport exchanges with the mainland since the two sides split in 1949 after a civil war, and tourist visits to the island by Chinese are severely restricted.
Taipei hopes to expand tourism by allowing Chinese to travel here directly for the first time, although a daily quota of 1,000 would stay in place, Chen said.
"If I am still in the position, I am confident of facilitating direct air links regardless of who's elected," Chen added.
"We can be pragmatic and negotiate a result that all can accept."
While both candidates have said they want more direct links, the KMT's Ma has gone much further in his calls for closer trade ties with China.
He has pledged, if elected, to launch weekend cross-strait charter flights by July 1 and scheduled daily services by the end of the year.
Currently, Taiwan grants tourist entry permits only to Chinese people who are studying overseas, travelling on to other destinations, or are permanent residents of third countries.
- AFP/so
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