Taiwanese and Chinese authorities signed three pacts during the week to strengthen trade cooperation and boost tourism links. Agreements towards increasing direct passenger charter flights, flights to more destinations and increased cargo flights were agreed upon. Agreements were also signed to enhance cooperation for ensuring financial stability as well as to increase cooperation to fight criminal activities1.

In other developments, reports noted that Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had finalised a ‘multi-language’ position paper to seek global support for the country’s bid to gain observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA)2.

• 1. “Taiwan inks three pacts with China to strengthen cooperation,” Central News Agency, April 26, 2009, at http://english.cna.com.tw/ReadNews/Detail.aspx?pSearchDate=&pNewsID=2009...
• 2. Flor Wang, “Foreign Ministry releases position paper on Taiwan’s WHA bid”, April 26, 2009, at http://english.cna.com.tw/ReadNews/Detail.aspx?pSearchDate=&pNewsID=2009...