Cross-Straits economic cooperation helpful to Taiwan

BEIJING - Cross-Straits cooperation and economic integration will create better conditions for Taiwan to participate in the regional economy, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Fan Liqing, State Council Taiwan Affairs Office (SCTAO) spokeswoman, told a press conference, "We hope Taiwan can grasp the opportunity in the trend of economic globalization and regional economic integration."

In a meeting between Premier Li Keqiang and Vincent Siew, honorary chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2014, they agreed that both sides should cherish the hard-won peaceful development of cross-Straits relations since 2008.

Speaking about cross-Straits container transport, Fan said that the annual increase of transport volume of oceanic containers exceeded 10 percent since direct air and sea transport and postal services across the Straits began in 2008.

The container transport price index made by relevant authorities of the mainland will provide an important reference for enterprises from both sides, Fan added.

Also at the press conference, Fan expressed her hope for more communication between students from the mainland and Taiwan to boost mutual understanding.

Fan said that Zhang Zhijun, director of the SCTAO, has already accepted an invitation from Taiwan and will visit the island at a proper time. Details of the visit are still under discussion.