Taipei: The most senior Communist Chinese official to visit Taiwan today to bid farewell to the island, saying his historic trip was a success but that the rivals had a long road to travel toward better relations.

The official, Chen Yunlin, signed a landmark trade deal during his five-day trip, but his mission also sparked daily street protests that were often violent. Before he left for the airport, Chen thanked the thousands of police who were deployed in the capital, Taipei, to protect him. He aslo declared that his visit was a big success for both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the 160-kilometre-wide body of water between the rivals that split amid civil war in 1949.

"We have successfully accomplished this memorable voyage and will return to Beijing," he said. "We have completed the mission that people across the strait have long desired and have handed over to us.

During his trip, Chen focused on economics and trade. He refused to discuss the thorny political that have blocked the rivals from talking for decades. But he acknowledged that major differences still exists between he two sides.

"We believe the future road is long but we will shoulder it and face up to this and that difficulty," he said. "We will do our best to contribute to the welfare of the people across the strait."

Source : PTI