The first forum of elites from the mainland and Taiwan ended in
Shanghai Friday with a joint proposal calling for closer economic
ties and pushing the peaceful and stable development of
cross-Straits relations.
The four-point proposal encourages Taiwan's businessmen to
invest in the mainland, saying their lawful rights will be
protected.
It claims to actively push the progress of direct flights
between the mainland and Taiwan in 2006.
Meanwhile, the proposal calls for promoting agricultural
exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, including
trade of agricultural products and exploration of fishing
resources.
It also stresses the normalization of economic relations, such
as two-way investment and cooperation in banking, securities and
insurance.
The two-day forum attracted more than 120 scholars and business
figures from both sides of the Taiwan Straits. They discussed
issues such as the mainland's economic development, Taiwan
businessmen's investment in the mainland, direct air and shipping
links across the Straits, the prospect of agricultural exchange and
cooperation between the two sides, and improvement in cross-Straits
investment and trade.
Jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the policy research
center of Taiwan's People First Party (PFP) Central Committee, the
forum is regarded as a major step in implementing the communiqué
issued after the meeting between General Secretary Hu Jintao
of the CPC Central Committee and PFP Chairman James Soong in
May.
(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2005)