Top negotiators from China and Taiwan began a day of talks Tuesday in Taipei, capping a year of unprecedented progress between the two former rivals.
"Regular talks between the two sides guarantee peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait and the region," Taiwan's chief delegate Chiang Pin-kung said at the start of the meeting at one of the city's main hotels.
Sitting across from Chiang was China's Chen Yunlin, who arrived by plane on Monday for what appears to have become a traditional year-end trip to the island.
Outside the venue small groups protested before being removed by police, highlighting the fact that the warming of ties is far from universally welcomed on the island of 23 million.
Both negotiators represent quasi-official bodies in charge of direct contacts since the two sides have no formal relations.
"I believe more and more Taiwan people will support negotiations between our two associations," Chen said.
Anti-China protesters had vowed to follow Chen "every step of the way" during his three-day visit to the island, and about ten gathered outside the hotel Tuesday.
Police, citing the need to allow the hotel to operate normally, in the end linked hands and circled the group of protesters, taking them to a waiting van amid minor scuffling.
The talks Tuesday focus on epidemic-control measures and joint research and development of medicines, herbal medicines and emergency treatment, Taiwanese officials said.
Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers the island part of its territory and has vowed to bring about reunification even if it means war.
Despite this underlying tension, the two sides have seen significant progress since 2008 after the election in Taiwan of the China-friendly politician Ma Ying-jeou as president.
Ma has pursued a programme of steadily increasing economic ties, culminating with the signing in June of a sweeping framework agreement for trade.
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