TAIPEI: Economics experts from the mainland are due to arrive in Taipei today for a seminar on the impact of the global financial crisis on the economies of Taiwan and the mainland.

Academicians from the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Taiwan's quasi-official Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CHIER) will discuss the current economic situation, their respective economic stimulus packages to cope with the crisis, as well as prospects, visions, fields and models for cross-Straits economic cooperation, a spokesman for the organizing body said yesterday.

Mainland scholars will deliver papers on the mainland's industrial upgrades and transformation in the wake of the global financial crisis, the impact of the crisis on agricultural development, the 10 economic cycles and the mainland's 2009 economic forecast.

Meanwhile, CHIER academics will present papers on food safety issues, possible cross-Straits economic cooperation models in Haixi area of the mainland and the impact of the global financial crisis on Taiwan's economy.

The mainland delegation will be composed of 14 officials and researchers from CASS, said a spokesman for the CHIER. The two organizations have taken turns annually to organize symposiums on economic and financial issues facing both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the spokesman said, adding that this year it is the CHIER's turn.

The CASS is the highest academic research organization in the fields of philosophy and social sciences as well as a national center for comprehensive studies on the mainland.

During its four-day stay, the mainland delegation will also visit major Taiwanese research and cultural institutions for academic exchange purposes, the spokesman said.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 09/16/2009 page2)