China and Taiwan began talking for the first time in almost a decade on Thursday, though the two often bitter diplomatic rivals are focusing on just a few practical issues and avoiding sensitive political problems.
The only two topics on the agenda are starting direct flights, banned since defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island at the close of the civil war in 1949, and opening Taiwan's doors to masses of Chinese tourists.
Negotiation teams including tourism and transport officials sat facing each other at a long table, rimmed by TV cameras, after a lengthy televised handshake between the two smiling team leaders. They were due to talk all day and sign agreements on Friday.
"We feel the great responsibility of this glorious mission and we must spare no effort in realizing the aspirations of people on the two sides," China's lead negotiator, Chen Yunlin, said at the opening of the talks, according to Xinhua news agency.
Chen and his Taiwanese counterpart, P.K. Chiang, head semi-official bodies set up to talk in the absence of formal ties.
There is not expected to be any mention of signing a peace treaty, of the missiles Taiwan says China has aimed at the island or of any of the other much trickier subjects both sides are ignoring in favour of first solving less contentious matters.
"The main items today are direct weekend charter flights and letting mainland China tourists come to Taiwan," Chiang said, adding he hoped both would "take effect at an early date".
Still, this round should pave the way for regular talks at which harder issues can be discussed, said Alexander Huang, a professor of strategic studies at Taipei's Tamkang University.
"Both sides understand we need to talk about more stuff. We are trying to put all the difficult issues on the shelf this time," Huang said.
The plain-spoken Chiang, 75, is expected to invite Chen to visit Taiwan and propose a long-term cooperation mechanism, Taiwan media reported on Thursday.
Chiang's 19-member team, including senior government officials seldom allowed passage to China, was scheduled to return to Taiwan on Saturday.
FIRST TALKS SINCE 1999
