Mainland willing to help Taiwan tackle financial crisis

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

THE mainland is willing to help Taiwan in face of current global financial crisis, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) leader said in Shanghai today.

"If the worsening world economic situation continues and the Taiwan side asks for help to solve economic difficulties, the mainland is willing to offer assistance with utmost efforts," said Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau.

Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at the 4th Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum which began today.

Jia Qinglin, 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.