Cross-Straits economic, trade forum opens in Beijing    

A forum on economic and trade affairs across the Taiwan Straits opened in Beijing Friday morning, and the establishment of direct shipping service will be one of the major topics.

Lien Chan delivers speech

Lien Chan calls for peace, prosperity across Taiwan Straits

Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, called for peace and common development across the Taiwan Straits at the opening of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum on Friday in Beijing.

Lien, who attended the forum leading a KMT delegation, reiterated his stance on the cross-Straits relations and hoped that proposals put forward at the two-day forum could boost the development of the cross-Straits ties in the future.

His topic is "Peace and Prosperity -- Common Aspiration."

Cross-Straits trade crucial for Taiwan's economic growth: Lien Chan

The booming trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan plays a key role in Taiwan's economic growth over the past six year, Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said Friday at the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum in Beijing.

Lien said the opening of the Chinese mainland market has helped Taiwan maintain an annul economic growth of 3.57 percent in the past six years despite dwindling domestic demand and declining consumption.

Lien Chan opposes demonizing, smearing Chinese mainland's development

The world should not demonize or smear the development of the Chinese mainland, nor regard it as a threat, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

The Chinese mainland provides market for countries like the United States and Japan, promotes their production efficiency, increases their people's purchasing capacity, relieves their deficit or economic stress and helps channel their investment into industries with high added-value, Lien said.

Lien made the remarks at the opening of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.

Lien calls for cross-Straits cooperation in agriculture, finance, energy

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan should push forward their cooperation in agriculture, finance, energy, charter flight, education and medical service, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

The mainland and Taiwan can enhance energy cooperation so as to raise energy efficiency and safeguard energy security, he said at the opening ceremony of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.

Cooperation promising for mainland, Taiwan in IC industry: Lien

The cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in integrated circuit industry will help seize the most promising business opportunity in the first half of the 21st century, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

Lien made the remark at opening ceremony of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.

Lien Chan underscores regional economic cooperation

Due to the slow development of the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks in Doha round, regional economic cooperation should be fully realized, Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

Almost half of world trade is made through regional economic cooperation, he said at the opening ceremony of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.

Lien Chan criticizes DPP's policy

After the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took power in Taiwan, its political policy has severely conflicted with Taiwan's economic development demand, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

This makes Taiwan lose the momentum of further economic growth, Lien said at the opening ceremony of the Cross-Straights Economic and Trade Forum.

Mainland's resources vital for Taiwan's future

The resources of Chinese mainland are vital for the future development of Taiwan's economy, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said Friday.

The economic and trade relationship between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan is "very, very close," and it has been proved by the latest statistics from the World Trade Organization, which showed the investment from Taiwan in the mainland reached 58 billion U.S. dollars last year, said Lien.

Taiwan aims to become an island of science and technology as well as a business hub of storage, logistics, finance and marketing of the world. These could not be realized without the resources of the mainland, said Lien.

Lien made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.