Cross‑Strait cooperation agreements signed in east China's Xiamen are expected to inject fresh momentum into Taiwan’s industries and deliver tangible benefits to local communities, according to participating businesspeople.
Held Saturday in Xiamen, the matchmaking event linked mainland buyers with Taiwan producers as part of efforts to expand economic exchanges and strengthen trade flows. Under the agreements, mainland companies will purchase a range of specialty agricultural and fishery products from Taiwan, including atemoya, pomelos and tea produced in counties and cities such as Taitung, Yunlin and Nantou.
The event was held to advance a package of 10 policies and measures unveiled by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee in April to promote cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. The measures are designed to address the practical needs of Taiwan compatriots and benefit young people, farmers, fishermen and small and medium-sized businesses.
Addressing the event, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan's future hinges on the Chinese mainland's development and progress and on the motherland's reunification and strength.
He called on people on both sides of the Strait to uphold the broader interests of the Chinese nation, deepen integrated development across the Strait and work toward national reunification.
Chang Jung-kung, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, said cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation remain the best way to enhance mutual understanding and improve the well-being of people on both sides.
"Cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation should originally be a process of mutual appreciation, self-improvement and mutual benefit and win-win results," he said.
Chang added that the Kuomintang will continue to support the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and seek greater benefits for the public.
Participating Taiwan businesspeople said that the phased results of these measures will be a "stimulus" that will help revitalize Taiwan's related industries and benefit the people.
"I am very pleased to see that the high-quality agricultural products grown by Taiwan farmers can be sold to our motherland," said Yang Chi-chun, an agricultural trader from Taiwan.
"This can help create a stronger connection between both sides, because communication is all about mutual understanding," said Tsao Sheng-yong, a hospital manager from Taiwan.
Cross-strait cooperation agreements expected to boost Taiwan industries: businesspeople
