Mainland, Taiwan hold economic, cultural forum

Source: Xinhua  |   2008-12-20  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan began this morning.

Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, and Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and Honorary Chairman Lien Chan from Taiwan attended the forum.

Wang Yi, director of the CPC Central Committee Taiwan Work Office, said in his opening speech that the forum bore a positive meaning of "carrying on the past and opening a way for future" as the cross-Straits relation has obviously developed and improved.

"I hope the forum will play a positive role in deepening cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation and advance peaceful development of the cross-Straits relation," he said.

More than 400 delegates of the two sides, including businessmen, experts, officials of the CPC and Kuomintang, attended the forum.