Wang Yi, newly appointed director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks at an executive meeting of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)  Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The State Council, China's Cabinet, said Tuesday that it had appointed Wang Yi as director of its Taiwan Affairs Office, replacing Chen Yunlin.

    Wang is concurrently head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

    The cabinet also ended Wang's post as vice foreign minister and Chen's post as director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council. Chen Yunlin was elected on Tuesday as president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS).

    Wang delivered a keynote speech at Tuesday's executive meeting of the ARATS.

    "I feel great responsibility in assuming the post," said Wang, who also vowed to exert great efforts in promoting peaceful development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan, and the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland.

    He encouraged the ARATS to shoulder the important task of advancing consultations with and make concerted efforts with the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation to address issues that are most concerned with by people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. He also called for efforts to push forward cross-Strait personnel, economic and cultural exchanges and advance the realization of cross-Strait direct links for mail, trade and transport services.

    Wang said the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council will continue to support the work of ARATS and ensure its smooth operation.

    Wang, a Beijing native born in October 1953, formerly held government posts including director of the Asian affairs department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assistant foreign minister, vice foreign minister, ambassador to Japan and after that vice foreign minister.

    He headed China's delegation to the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue in 2007. 

Wang Yi (L), newly appointed director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, talks to his predecessor Chen Yunlin at an executive meeting of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits in Beijing, capital of China, June 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)  Photo Gallery>>>

Chen Yunlin elected chief of mainland-based Association for Relations across Taiwan Strait

    BEIJING, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yunlin, former State Council Taiwan affairs official, was elected on Tuesday as chief of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS).

    Chen was elected at the ARATS executive meeting on Tuesday. Full story

Source: Xinhua