Although three days of talks between Beijing and Taipei yielded an agreement on medical co-operation, the more important investment protection pact was left unsigned.
And Chen Yunlin, the mainland's top negotiator in these talks, acknowledged yesterday that the road ahead would be bumpy for the two sides.
'There will be more important agendas in future talks, and on the road ahead, it is inevitable that difficulties and obstacles that could hamper progress [of bilateral ties] will occur,' he said following the sixth round of talks.
But Chen stressed that such obstacles would 'never change the cross-strait peaceful trend'.
Chen led a group of senior officials in talks with his Taiwanese counterpart, Chiang Pin-kung, in Taipei on Tuesday. Both sides said later that the investment protection agreement became bogged down because of the complexity and sensitivity of some of the terms and issues.
One negotiator said the mainland was concerned about the island's demand to bring in international arbitrators to settle disputes, a move that would elevate Taipei's sovereign status. And Taiwan was hesitant about the mainland's demand that restrictions on mainland investments on the island be lifted.
Although both Chiang and Chen stressed that they expected the investment protection agreement would be signed during the next round of talks, analysts were doubtful.