Mainland, Taiwan negotiators underscore economic exchanges, co-op

Kao Koong-lian said one of the SEF's basic notions is that the cross-Straits relations should be two-way exchanges instead of one-way.

With mainland investment on the island, one of the four major issues under negotiation during the talks, the cross-Straits trade could basically resume normal two-way exchanges, he said.

He hoped issues on safeguarding cross-Straits investment agreements and preventing double taxation could be included in the next round of talks.

Direct transport, postal service and trade was totally cut off between the two sides since the Chinese civil war ended in 1949.

On Jan. 1, 1979, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or the top legislature, called for an early realization of the three direct cross-Straits links on transport, mail and trade in its "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan." After 1979, the mainland allowed Taiwan products to enter at lower tax rates or tax-exempt.

In July 1988, the State Council, or the Cabinet, issued regulations encouraging Taiwan compatriots to invest on the mainland.

The mainland has been the largest trading partner of Taiwan since 2003, with annual trading volume surpassing 100 billion U.S. dollars.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei