The Third Cross-Straits Economic and Cultural Forum will be held in Beijing from April 28-29. Lien Chan, Taiwan's Nationalist Party Honorary Chairman will attend it and meet President Hu Jintao.

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Hu, Lien 'Likely to Meet' During 3rd Forum

Hu Jintao, general-secretary of the Central Committee of Communist Party of China and Lien Chan, honorary chairman of Taiwan's leading opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party are likely to meet this weekend, a mainland official said yesterday.

Yang Yi, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the pair might meet during the third Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum being held in Beijing this Saturday and Sunday.

"Arrangements for the meeting are being made," he told a regular press conference.

If realized, this would be the pair's third meeting since April 2005, when Lien, then KMT chairman, made a historic visit to the mainland and met Hu in Beijing. It was the first top-level talks between the CPC and KMT in 60 years.

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In Memory of the Ancestor

Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomingtang Party, and his wife Lien Fang-yu, pay homage to the Yellow Emperor, considered to be the ancestor of all Han Chinese People, in Xinzheng, central China's Henan Province April 19.

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Lien Chan Arrives in Henan

Lien Chan (M), Taiwan's Nationalist Party Honorary Chairman and his wife Lien Fangyu (L) are welcomed by an official upon their arrival at an airport in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province April 16, 2007.

Lien will attend the 3rd Cross-Straits Economic and Cultural Forum in Beijing April 28-29.

Lien Chan will attend a ceremony on Thursday at Xinzheng, the hometown of Huangdi, or Yellow Emperor, who is believed to be the ancestor of all Han Chinese people.

He will also visit the Shaolin temple and ancient capitals of Luoyang and Kaifeng.

After leaving Henan on Thursday, Lien will tour a number of other provinces before attending the third cross-straits economic, trade and cultural forum scheduled for April 28-29 in Beijing.

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National Association of Taiwan Businessmen Founded

The National Association of Taiwan Businessmen, the first business organization for Taiwanese on the mainland, convened for the first time in Beijing on Monday.

 

 

Chang Han-wen, first Chairman of the National Association of Taiwan Businessmen, announced that its remit would be to serve and preserve cross-Straits economic and trade ties. It will also aim to facilitate the creation of direct communication links across the Taiwan Straits such as mail, trade and shipping services.

 

Director of the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office and honorary Chairman of the association, Chen Yunlin outlines his hopes that the association will improve avenues for Taiwan-funded businesses and generally contribute to cross-Straits relations.

 

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Lien Chan to Visit Mainland in April

 

Lien Chan, honorary chairman of Taiwan's opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) will visit the mainland in late April, mainland spokesman said in Beijing on Wednesday.

Lien will head the KMT delegation to attend the third cross-strait economic, trade and cultural forum scheduled for April 28-29 in Beijing, said Yang Yi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

He said representatives from the two sides will exchange views on topics of common concern including direct flights, education and tourism.

"We hope this forum will further promote the cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation and push cross-Straits relations towards peace and stability," Yang said at the regular press conference.

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New Rules to Govern Mainland-Taiwan Trade

The Ministry of Commerce will soon release a set of favorable policies aiming to boost "low-volume" trade across the Taiwan Straits, a senior official said yesterday at the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum in Xiamen.

 

Chong Quan, assistant minister of commerce, stated that these policies would include easing certain restrictions relating to the tonnage allowed per ship and to the trade volume allowed per voyage at certain mainland ports.

 

Chong also announced that China would widen trade permits both for companies and goods, without providing further details.

 

The existing rules on low-volume trade with Taiwan dictate that no haul of goods for any one voyage may exceed US$100,000, and that all goods must be carried by Taiwan ships of less than 100 tons.

 

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(China.org.cn)