The sixth Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum ended on July 11 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, with the adoption of 22 joint proposals for the promotion of cross-Strait cooperation in various fields, forum organizers said.
The forum was held under the signing of the historic Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between China and Taiwan in late June and highlighted the enhancement of competitiveness of both sides through mutually beneficial cooperation, said Wang Yi, director of Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at the forum's closing ceremony.
The proposals also target cross-strait cooperation for the enhancement of international competitiveness, and stressed cooperation in emerging strategic industries, Wang added.
Taiwan and Guangdong officials also agreed to strengthen cooperation in culture and sports, and to put forward suggestions for disaster prevention and relief cooperation, in addition to the proposals for the promotion of cooperation in new energy and energy conservation, among others, Wang said.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the joint proposals will boost economic and technical development on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. "The forum has shown the confidence and determination of both the CPC and Kuomintang (KMT) Party and of all walks of life across the Strait, to advance the economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation and peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," said Jia.
Jia added that innovation was the key to fostering and developing emerging industries and called for innovation in science and technology, management and policies. KMT honorary chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, leader of the Taiwan delegation, also hailed the success of the forum.
Wu said cooperation in emerging industries with different features across the Strait will produce a "one plus one is greater than two" outcome, and will improve competitive power on both sides and help exploit the global market.
The forum, a regular event between the CPC and Taiwan's KMT, was first held in 2006. This year's forum was attended by more than 400 people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
