Taiwan invited to civil aviation assembly

The civil aviation authorities of Taiwan have been invited to send staff as non-voting delegates to attend the 38th session of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez, president of the ICAO council, has sent an invitation letter for the event scheduled to be held between Sept. 24 and Oct. 4 in Montreal of Canada, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Friday. The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have communicated and exchanged views on Taiwan's participation in activities of the ICAO. Arrangements were made under the precondition that such participation would not cause "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," according to the CAAC. "This reflects our goodwill to Taiwan compatriots and sincerity to maintain the momentum of peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," an unnamed official of the CAAC said. The Chinese mainland has attached great importance to aviation safety for Taiwanese people and promoting exchanges and cooperation in civil aviation, and the mainland has actively assisted Taiwan to acquire information from the ICAO, the official added. "We hope to strengthen civil aviation cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan, enhance benefits for the people of the two sides, and promote the peaceful development of the cross-Strait ties," the official said