“Taiwan and China plan to sign an agreement to share information on epidemics and cooperate in developing new drugs when the two sides meet in Taipei next week for their regular semiannual talks. The pact is a further step in efforts by Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to strengthen ties with the mainland and reduce cross-strait tensions, which have eased to their lowest level since the sides split amid civil war in 1949.” (12/16/10)