Wang Yanlin/Shanghai Daily news

Scholars and business executives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait came together in Shanghai yesterday on a plan for promoting greater economic exchange between the mainland and the island.
A proposal released by the nongovernmental forum on cross-strait issues encourages Taiwan business people to invest in the mainland and advocates the start of direct cargo and passenger flights, expanded agricultural cooperation and the normalization of economic relations between the two sides.
The measures included a request for the mainland government to employ Taiwanese professionals to deal with cross-strait economic arbitration, the strengthening of intellectual property rights protection and the establishment of a free economic zone in Taiwan's Jinmen, Mazu and Penghu, where people from both sides of the strait can enjoy favorable tax policies.
The forum also concluded that regular direct flights should be launched for tourists and business people who hold identity cards in Taiwan or the mainland. The central government was urged to continue to facilitate shipments of Taiwan fruit to the mainland and help establish an efficient distribution network.
In addition, the current one-way investment climate should be changed, forum delegates said, with mainland business people allowed to invest directly in Taiwan.
"Many high-level experts, scholars and business executives from both straits fully expressed their opinions at the forum," said Li Bingcai, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China's Central Committee. "Most of these opinions, derived from long-time experience, are realistic and practical."
Ching-Sheng Chin, secretary-general of Taiwan's People First Party, the smaller of the island's two main opposition parties, said he will spare no effort to help advance the measures advocated at the Shanghai session: "It may take time to realize all of these goals. But we will start with the easiest ones and carry on to the end."