Call to deepen cooperation
Print Edition
THE Chinese mainland and Taiwan should strengthen communication and promote understanding to pave the way for further cooperation, participants at a forum in Shanghai said yesterday.
Yu Zhengsheng, one of the Communist Party of China’s top leaders, told the 10th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum: “There are still vast opportunities and room for further cooperation, while tough challenges also exist.”
He said the forum was a great platform to promote further cooperation when cross-Strait interaction had deepened.
Among the topics aired at the forum was Taiwan’s participation in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB),
“The Chinese mainland and Taiwan should discuss ways for the island to participate in the AIIB,” Yu said at the opening ceremony of the one-day event. “Such moves can improve the competitiveness of the whole Chinese economy.”
Last month, Beijing rejected Taiwan’s bid to become a founding member of the regional development bank but said it could become a member “under an appropriate name.”
Eric Chu, chairman of the Kuomintang, Taiwan’s ruling party, also expressed the hope that the island could play an active role in the AIIB and other initiatives to expand its status in the international market.
“The 21st century marks an era of cooperation, not confrontation,” Chu said. “We should develop a positive attitude towards cooperation while listening to different voices. Taiwan is strong in innovation as well as research and development. It can complement the mainland’s strength in manufacturing. We hope to integrate further into the regional economy.”
Jiann-Chyuan Wang, vice president of the Chuang-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said Taiwan should continue to apply for AIIB membership, which could bring huge benefits, though he regretted the island had missed the chance to be a founding member.
Also discussed were Taiwan’s participation in the “One Belt One Road” initiative, regional economic cooperation, how to involve smaller companies and younger people in cross-Strait cooperation and how to better share the wealth created by it.
The forum, which was launched in 2005, has been held in a number of cities on the mainland, including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, and has witnessed many achievements as the relationship has developed. About 153 agreements had been signed over the past 10 years.
Last year, more than 4 million people from the mainland visited Taiwan, while bilateral trade and investment amounted to US$198.3 billion.
“The fruits are there,” Yu said.
“The base for the forum to continue is that both sides should insist on the peaceful development of relations by adhering to the one-China principle, and oppose Taiwan independence. On the basis of that, we should deepen cross-Strait economic cooperation, bolster communication among young people, and allow wider participation of this forum,” Yu said.
Chu said: “We should be responsible for our people, for the next generations, and for history.” He called for continued efforts to improve cross-Strait relations and in sharing the fruits with more people.
Chu is due to have talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing today.
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