China calls for earlier ECFA at Boao

Fredrick Chien, a retired veteran diplomat who is leading Taiwan's delegation at the regional forum held in the Chinese island province, also called for closer cross-strait cooperation in the development of green industries.

Other delegates from Taipei stressed that the ECFA will create tremendous business opportunities for enterprises and financial opportunities.

They said that the agreement will help rectify the current massive one-way investment by Taiwan companies in China and bring about healthy long-term cooperation and development.

Some business and industry leaders pointed out that the lack of a formal trade agreement across the Taiwan Strait has caused twists in the structure of many cross-strait activities.

But the signing of the pact will clear the uncertainties for their investments in China as well as Chinese firms' investments in Taiwan, they said.

During his meeting with Chien and other Taiwan delegates, Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said the signing of the ECFA “should proceed without interruptions and be allowed to yield positive results and economic efficiency the sooner the better.”

He said that “all issues can be discussed and all problems can be addressed if we engage as members of a family.”

He called for closer cooperation across the strait to create a new era of cooperation now that the global economic crisis has passed.

Wang Yi, China's top official in charge of Taiwan relations, also pushed for the ECFA signing at a cocktail party to welcome the Taiwan delegation.

Wang said Taiwan will benefit substantially if cross-strait economic and trade exchanges become closer and institutionalized.

“We want to pass more real, positive and objective information about the ECFA to our Taiwanese compatriots via the Boao forum,” Wang said.

He also stressed that it is time for the two sides to cooperate more closely on innovation industries.

1|2|Next Page>>

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email