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Mainland, Taiwan conclude forum

(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-21 18:41

SHANGHAI -- The 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan was concluded here Sunday afternoon after two days of discussion.

Jia Qinglin (C), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, Wu Boxiong (R), chairman of Taiwan's Nationalist party (KMT), and KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan attend the opening ceremony of the 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum in Shanghai December 20, 2008. [Agencies]

Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung attended the closing ceremony.

Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, congratulated on the success of the forum on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

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He said the forum saw the presence of Wu, KMT Honorary Chairman Lien Chan and many other elites from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, which demonstrated the great significance the two sides attached to the event.

The suggestions made at the forum reflected the common aspirations of the compatriots on both sides, and were expected to exert a positive influence on the decision-making of relevant authorities, he said.

Wu urged the KMT-CPC platform to actively play its role to "make up for the time lost in the past."

He said the forum would also be held next year and the two sides needed further consultations on where it would take place.

He expressed hope that Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party and the Taiwan Solidarity Union would also attend the event next year.

Mainland announces 10 measures for coop with Taiwan

The Chinese mainland announced here on Sunday ten policies and measures for economic cooperation with Taiwan aimed at a joint responses to the global financial crisis.

The measures include the support for the development of Taiwanese-funded companies in the mainland, promotion of two-way investment and so on, said Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, at the conclusion of the 4th Cross-Straits Economic,Trade and Cultural Forum.

Details about the measures and policies include:

-- To support the development of Taiwanese-funded enterprises on the mainland. The mainland's policies for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also apply to Taiwanese-funded SMEs. To support Taiwanese-funded enterprises to participate in the mainland's projects to expand domestic demand.

-- To improve the financing services for Taiwanese-funded enterprises. The Industry and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China have recently decided to offer 50 billion yuan (US$7.3 billion) each financing Taiwanese-funded enterprises in two to three years, including SMEs. China Development Bank will offer another 30 billion yuan financing Taiwanese-funded enterprises in three years in addition to its previous 30 billion yuan for them.