Chiang Pin-kun, Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) vice chairman, was elected Chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) on Monday, Taiwan media reported.

Chiang said in a speech in Taipei that the SEF had already been authorized by the island's authorities to meet with the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) on issues including cross-straits charter flights and mainland tourists' travel to Taiwan.

He said the the SEF would meet with the ARATS as soon as possible.

He said the mainland and Taiwan should resume negotiations on the basis of the 1992 consensus to create a win-win situation across the Taiwan Straits.

Chiang pledged to promote cross-straits economic and cultural exchanges, and to protect the rights and interests of Taiwan businessmen in the mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2008)