Taiwan agricultural fair opens in Beijing

A three-day fair featuring agricultural specialties of Taiwan began in the Beijing Exhibition Center on Saturday.

The fair attracted nearly 130 exhibitors and also promoted tourism.

Mainland businesses are expected to sign cooperation agreements with county authorities from Taiwan.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, and Chen Chen-hsiang, vice chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, attended the opening ceremony.

"What we are presenting here is not only the agricultural products grown by the Taiwanese, but also their confidence of walking hand in hand with mainland people at a difficult time for cross-Strait relations," Fu Kun-chi, head of Taiwan's Hualien County, said at the fair.

Yang Yizhou, vice president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, an association of Taiwanese on the mainland, lauded the fair as it showcased mainland authorities's goodwill.

"The mainland and Taiwanese people's natural bond will not be sabotaged by anyone," Yang said.