China called on Taiwan to take "earnest" steps to protect mainland envoys visiting the island next month, state media said Wednesday, after protestors trapped a representative in a hotel last year.
Yang Yi, spokesman for China's official Taiwan Affairs Office, said he believed the upcoming talks would be "supported and welcomed by Taiwan compatriots" despite threats of new protests, Xinhua news agency reported.
Last December, Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin was blocked from leaving a hotel in Taipei by hundreds of pro-independence demonstrators protesting his visit.
Over 7,000 police were deployed to ensure Chen's safety, according to officials, after his deputy Zhang Mingqing was jostled and knocked to the ground by anti-China protesters during a visit to Taiwan the previous month.
Yang said next month's talks would focus on labour cooperation in the fishing industry and tax issues. The talks are expected to take place in late December.
Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since the end of a civil war in 1949, but Beijing still considers the island part of its territory and has vowed to get it back, by force if necessary.
However, ties have improved markedly since last year when China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou took office in Taiwan.
Talks on economic issues have yielded three documents on financial cooperation, signed last week, and could also result in a broader pact on trade and investment in 2010.
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