Eighth Cross-Straits Seminar on Promoting China's Modernization OpensThe Eighth Seminar on Promoting China's Modernization was opened Sunday in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, which was co-sponsored by the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and theTaiwan Foundation for Academic Studies on Promotion of China's Modernization.The two-day seminar will focus on issues of SOE reforms, development of tertiary industry, particularly the information sector, readjustment of agricultural structure and shift of surplus labors. Deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council Li Bingcai addressed the opening ceremony. He said that the seminar was held under the situation of continuous development of economic and technological cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. The deepening of SOE reforms has created most favorable conditions for promoting cross-Straits economic exchange and cooperation, enabling Taiwan businessmen to invest in a wider domain and in more flexible and diverse forms. In the mainland, they can not only make direct investment and develop trade, but can also buy enterprises' stocks and bonds, merge and purchase small and medium-sized SOEs. Along with the comprehensive launch of the strategy for the large-scale development of the western region and acceleration of renovation, SOE reforms will offer more business opportunities for Taiwan investors. We will adhere to the equal, priority with appropriate liberalization policy to support and encourage Taiwan compatriots to come to invest in the mainland, it is particularly necessary to encourage Taiwan businesses to invest in hi-tech industry, western development, SOE reform and renovation of old industrial bases, Li added. We will strictly follow the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Investment by Taiwan Compatriots" and the Detailed Rules on Its Implementation, and constantly improve the investment environment and give more realistic and effective protection to Taiwan investment in the mainland. We believe that, through the joint efforts of mainland and Taiwan compatriots, we can definitely defeat the challenges posed by the world economy and create a bright future for the rejuvenation of Chinese nation. Chairman of the Foundation for Academic Studies on Promotion of China's Modernization Wang Sheng said in his speech that over the past 20 years since the launch of reform and opening up, the northeast area, as an important industrial base of China, has witnessed rapid development in all its social undertakings, and a swift rise in people's living standards. More than 20 experts and scholars from the mainland and more than 60 scholars and entrepreneurs from Taiwan attended the seminar, with over 30 treatises from both sides being presented. Since its establishment in 1993, the Foundation has been cooperating with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits to hold seminars annually, which have played a positive role in promoting academic exchanges across the Straits. |
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