Taipei - Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin left Taiwan Friday after a five-day visit and the signing of four pacts on expanding cross-strait ties.

"I will remember the Taiwan people's concern and support," he said at a send-off ceremony at a Taipei hotel. "I believe that in the future, there is a long way to go and we will meet many difficulties, but we are not afraid to face them."

Chen made a deep bow to thank Taiwan police for protecting him after protests greeted him on every stop of his visit.

"In the future, if you come to China, your trip will be very harmonious, very smooth," he said in a sarcastic reference to the protests, which included a demonstration organized by the pro-independent Democratic Progressive Party that barricaded him for six hours in a Taipei hotel and clashes between police and protestors when Chen met Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou.

Chen, leading a 60-member delegation, arrived Monday to sign four pacts on direct sea links, daily charter flights, direct postal service and food safety.

He was the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Taiwan in 60 years, and his visit is an indication of improved ties between Taiwan and China, which split at the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949.

Ma received Chen Thursday, telling him in their five-minute meeting that Taiwan deserves the right to join international organizations and is concerned about its security, implying that China should remove its missiles facing Taiwan.

Chen did not respond to Ma's requests and did not call Ma "president" because Beijing does not recognize the legality of the Taiwan government.

The closely watched meeting fell short of general expectations that it would be an hour long and touch on a range of political and economic issues.

Outside, demonstrators shouted "Taiwan is Taiwan, China is China," and "No selling out of Taiwan" and clashed with police when they tried to break through barricades.

China sees Taiwan, seat of the exiled Republic of China government since 1949, as its breakaway province and has threatened to recover Taiwan by force if Taipei seeks formal independence or indefinitely delays reunification talks. (dpa)