Cross-Strait economic forum kicks off in SW China
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The Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, a regular forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, opened Saturday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Kuomintang (KMT) honorary chairman Wu Poh-hsiung attended the opening ceremony.
Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at the opening ceremony that the cross-Strait forum had become an important platform of "sincere communication" between members of the CPC and the KMT and people from various circles across the Strait.
The forum, proposed by leaders of the two parties and initiated in 2006, has undergone "extraordinary development," Jia said, adding that the previous six forums had played a guiding role in deepening cross-Strait exchanges.
He said topics of the forum, including the mainland's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) and Taiwan's "golden decade" blueprint (2011-2020), as well as further implementation of the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and educational, cultural and youth exchanges, are of great practical significance.
Jia said the implementation of the ECFA and its early harvest program, which took effect last September and this January respectively, had brought "tangible benefits" to people on both sides.
He said the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations had earned "more support and recognition" and it had become an "irresistible trend."
The two sides should continue to promote cross-Strait negotiations in order to ensure that "development fruits benefit more grassroots people," Jia said.
"Economic cooperation between the two sides has entered a crucial period that could make a difference," he said, adding that both sides have listed strengthening cross-Strait cooperation as an important part in their economic plans.
Jia said efforts should be made to improve the cross-Strait economic cooperation mechanism and enhance its level so as to boost its benefits to the public and maintain a sound economic cooperation environment.
Wu said there were two "bridges" -- economic cooperation and cultural exchanges -- between the mainland and Taiwan, both of which were "very important."
Wu said the forum's discussion would provide important reference to both sides for policy making.
About 450 representatives and experts from both sides attended the two-day forum.
