Leaders of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits are expected to meet for the sixth time in mid December. While the two sides are planning to sign an agreement on

cross-strait health and medical cooperation, the Minister of Department of Health, Yang Chih-liang, has expressed that there will be restrictions set in protecting the industry in Taiwan.

According to the Department of Health statistics, 90 percent of Chinese medicine ingredients came from China.

In order to prevent anymore heavy metal contamination or pesticide residue found in those ingredients and protect the rights and health of local customers, the medical cooperation agreement is planned to be signed at the sixth Jiang-Chen meeting.

Health Minister Yang Chiliang pointed out that, the signing of the agreement allows strict control of medicine quality and would allow both sides of the strait to fight against counterfeit drugs, in addition to building a system for reporting infectious disease and emergency treatment.

The government is insisting on the 5 restrictions, including no influence on medical professional cultivation, no Mainland medical professionals are allowed to come to Taiwan to take licensing tests or treat patients.

No mainland funding can be involved in setting up hospitals in Taiwan and no Health care subsidies will be paid for care received in China.

The location of the sixth Jiang-Chen meeting is still yet to be announced for mid December, however, it is certain that the medical cooperation agreement and investment protection agreement will be signed.

After the signing, Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait Vice Chairman Cheng LiChung would lead a delegation to Taiwan for a two-days one-night visit to further negotiate the details of the two agreements