East China's Fujian Province is strengthening cross-Straits economic exchanges, cooperation and promotion to realize the comprehensive and two-way "three links."

Fujian is speeding up construction of an economic zone on the west bank of the Taiwan Straits, which will bring more overseas especially Taiwanese investment, said Fujian Governor Lu Zhangong at the First World Fujian Business Convention held Monday.

The convention attracted more than 1,800 merchants of Fujian origin from around the world.

Participating entrepreneurs called on Chinese people around the world, especially Fujianese, to contribute more to the economic development across the Straits.

"Fujian has been playing a very important role in cross-Straits relations," said Zhangzhou Taiwan Investment Association President Oliver Ho.

He said that the economic development of the two sides should not be influenced by the unstable relations across the Straits. Fujian should bring its geographic advantage into full play and try more to push its economic development strategy.

He suggested that the province should further increase partnerships with Jinmen and Matsu, and increase the volumes of freights and passengers so as to attract more Taiwanese investment in the province and other regions of the mainland.

"Taiwan is expanding the opening up of its ports, which is a great chance for Fujian to develop direct two-way freight across the Straits," he said.

He also suggested that the mainland adopt more favorable policies for Taiwanese investment using the experience of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), which provides a new platform for business in Hong Kong and Macao to tap the vast opportunities in the mainland market.

"The two sides across the Taiwan Straits should seek common economic development on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit and join the mainland in meeting the challenges of economic globalization and regional integration," said William Chiu, president of Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China.

(China Daily May 18, 2004)