Third is the objective demand of progressing cross-straits relations and the mainstream public opinion. Whether it is from the perspective of the mainstream public opinion on both sides of the Taiwan Straits or the expectations of the international community, the resumption of ARATS-SEF talks will help stabilize cross-straits relations and maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. In the process of cross-straits exchanges, particularly in economic cooperation, many problems are waiting to be solved. By the end of 2007, there had been over 47 million arrivals of Taiwan tourists to the mainland, the indirect mainland-Taiwan trade had accumulatively topped $700 billion and the number of Taiwan businesses' investment projects on the mainland had surpassed 75,000. The resumption of talks between ARATS and SEF will further boost cross-straits economic cooperation.

Fourth is the huge potential economic benefits of enhanced mainland-Taiwan economic cooperation. According to Taiwan authorities' estimates, if the agreements on weekend cross-straits charter flights and mainland tourists' visit to Taiwan can be smoothly implemented in July, the profits garnered in relevant industries and services in Taiwan are expect to counteract the side effects brought by the retail fuel price hike in June and Taiwan's economy would see an initial turnaround.

Mature talk environment

Since the 17th CPC National Congress in October 2007, Party and state leaders have given priority to the work concerning Taiwan. Senior leaders' enthusiastic involvement in this work helps lay a solid foundation for opening a new chapter in cross-straits relations. Especially in 2008, CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao's meetings with high-ranking political figures from Taiwan, including Vincent Siew, Lien Chan and Wu Poh-hsiung, show the mainland's sincere will to improve and develop cross-straits relations and create a good atmosphere for interaction across the straits.

After the March 22 "presidential" election in Taiwan, calls for closer mainland-Taiwan relations have been on the rise in the island. Continuous high-level interaction across the straits further increases mutual trust. After the 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Wenchuan County in southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, Taiwan compatriots show their compassion for quake victims, accelerating the reconciliation and integration across the straits.

High-ranking Taiwan political figures' successive visits to the mainland won the support and recognition of the mainstream public that supports the peaceful development of cross-straits relations. During then Kuomintang Chairman Lien Chan's visit to the mainland in 2005, pro-independence forces in Taiwan accused Lien of selling out Taiwan, and some "Taiwan independence" activists even tried to block Lien's car on the way to the airport before his departure. Worse still, there were even bloody conflicts between Lien's proponents and opponents at the airport. The failure of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan's recent "legislative" and "presidential" elections shows that the majority of Taiwan people do not support the party's confrontational policies toward the mainland over the past eight years. The growing demand for the development of cross-straits relations in Taiwan is boosting the reconciliatory atmosphere.