Mainland, Taiwan seek further cooperation between counties, small cities
6/7/2005 17:27
China's mainland and Taiwan voiced their common aspiration Wednesday to
intensify all-round cooperation between their counties and small cities.
Two
hundred people attended the "200 Forum" that opened in Nanjing, capital of east
China's Jiangsu Province, Wednesday morning, including 100 representatives from
18 counties and cities in Taiwan and 100 lawmakers, or deputies to the Chinese
National People's Congress (NPC), from 28 counties, cities and districts in
Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and Shanghai municipality.
They are
expected to discuss ways to promote cooperation and exchanges in economic,
cultural and urban development sectors at the forum, which carries the theme of
"cross-Straits cooperation, common development".
Cheng Siwei, vice chairman
of the NPC Standing Committee, said the forum is a "new form" for
people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits and a "significant event"
in promoting cross-Straits cooperation and common development.
"The occasion
will enhance the mutual-understanding and friendship between people across the
Taiwan Straits," he said at the opening ceremony. "Counties and small cities
from across the Taiwan Straits can certainly join hands in meeting the new
challenges of the times and seeking mutual benefits."
It is the common will
of Chinese compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to enhance
exchanges, dialogue and cooperation, as the mainland is going all-out to build a
fairly affluent society and Taiwan is seeking a new round of rapid economic
growth, said Li Yuanchao, secretary of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the
Communist Party of China (CPC).
"It's our solemn mission and common
responsibility to maintain, develop and protect the happiness and benefits of
Chinese compatriots on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits," he said.
He said
Jiangsu Province, as one of the major interfaces for cross-Straits cooperation,
wishes to take the opportunity to push ahead all-round exchanges and cooperation
with Taiwan.
According to Li, Taiwan compatriots had made 3.95 million trips
to Jiangsu Province by the end of 2004, visiting relatives, seeking business
opportunities and for sightseeing tours.
"About 50,000 Taiwan compatriots are
living permanently in Jiangsu Province," he added. "Of the top 100 Taiwan
businesses, at least 60 have come to invest in Jiangsu."
Wu Junli, a
representative from Taitung county, said he hoped the "200 Forum" will enhance
mutual understanding so that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will work together
in building their future on a "win-win" basis.
Chen Yunlin, director of the
Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the opening
ceremony.
Xinhua News
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