A 38-member economic and trade study group from Taiwan arrived in southwestern municipality of Chongqing on Sunday afternoon, unveiling its eight-day business trip in the municipality and its neighboring province of Sichuan.

The group, comprised of big names, such as Jeffrey L.S. Koo, chairman of the Taiwan-based Chinatrust Financial Holding Co. Ltd. and Chiang Pin-kung, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomingtang Party, met with Zheng Lizhong, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, on Sunday night.

Zheng extended a warm welcome to the group and showed gratitude for the efforts of these Taiwan entrepreneurs to promote the economic cooperation across the Taiwan Straits.

In the just concluded cross-Straits economic and trade forum, the mainland released a new package of beneficial policies, including the removal of taxes on imports of 11 kinds of vegetables produced by Taiwan farmers and imports of some aquatic products.

"We would continue implementing the policies to encourage Taiwan compatriots to invest in the mainland and keep our promise to safeguard the rights and interests of Taiwan business people," said Zheng.

During their stay in Chongqing, the group would also met with the officials with the State Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce to talk about the across-Straits cooperation in service sector and the business opportunities brought to the Taiwan business people by the 11th Five-Year Guidelines (2006-2010) of the Chinese mainland.

The group will leave for Sichuan after their three-day visit in Chongqing.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2006)