The Chinese mainland announced a new package of policies to
promote economic and trade relations across the Taiwan Straits on
Saturday.
Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made it public at the end
of the two-day Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum, as a further
step the mainland has taken to boost cross-straits exchanges and
cooperation in favor of Taiwan compatriots.
The package is comprised of three sets policies directly
stipulated by the State Council and 12 others formulated by
relevant central government departments.
The three sets of State Council policies are as follows:
-- To add four species in a list of Taiwan-grown fruits, which
currently have 18 species, for Taiwan exporters.
-- To adopt a zero-tax on imports of 11 kinds of vegetables
produced by Taiwan farmers.
-- To allow more imports of Taiwan's aquatic products, with
zero-tax on some of the products, and allow Taiwan fishing boats to
enjoy equal policies as their mainland counterparts for selling
their own products.
Under the other new policies, three more cross-straits
agricultural cooperation pilot zones will be set up in mainland
cities of Foshan and Zhanjiang, in Guangdong Province, and Yulin, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Moreover, Zhangpu City, Fujian Province, and Qixia City, Shandong Province, will establish two hatching
gardens for Taiwan farmers.
Secondly, the mainland's federation of supply and marketing
cooperatives will help organize mainland farm-products dealers to
visit Taiwan for group procurements, during the peak seasons of
fruit harvest.
Thirdly, a special marketing center will be set up in Xiamen
City, Fujian, bring convenience and reduce cost for Taiwan's fruit
imports.
Fourthly, the mainland will open a "green corridor"
transportation of Taiwan fruits, to reduce their shipping cost.
Fifthly, the mainland will recognize university diplomas issued
in Taiwan.
(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2006)