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Closer cross-Straits links urged
By Hu Meidong and Li Dapeng (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-05-18 08:42
East China's Fujian Province is strengthening cross-Straits economic
exchanges, co-operation 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 yesterday.
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 favourable 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.
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