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)