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Hu for fillip to ties with Taiwan

— Photo: Xinhua

Historic meet: Chinese President Hu Jintao (right) with Vincent Siew, Vice-President-elect of Taiwan, in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, on Saturday.

BOAO (Hainan): Chinese President Hu Jintao has said the economic and trade exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan are facing a historic opportunity and needed joint efforts for progress.

Mr. Hu made the remarks at a meeting with Vincent C. Siew, Vice-President-elect of Taiwan at the Boao Forum for Asia. He said economic and cultural exchanges would be promoted.

He said China would continue to be concerned about Taiwan compatriots’ welfare and their legal rights and interests, and would step up efforts to restore cross-Straits negotiations.

The Chinese President said participants from all walks of life home and abroad attended the forum.

It reflected the Asian countries’ strong desire to reinforce communication and cooperation and seek win-win solutions.

“The fact also inspired us to think deep about cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation under the new circumstances.”

Established in 2001, the Boao Forum has become a major platform for discussion and debate on economic development in Asia.

The theme of this year’s annual conference is “Green Asia: moving towards win-win through changes.”

Mr. Siew said the economies of China and Taiwan were closely related, and the development of trade and economic relations had contributed to cross-Straits stability. He hoped Chinese tourists would soon travel to Taiwan and that direct flights and normal trade ties had become an inevitable choice.

Mr. Hu said the cross-Straits the economic exchanges and cooperation were the most vigorous factor in the cross-Straits relations and an effective way to benefit people and expand people’s common interests.

Mr. Hu pointed out that in the past eight years, the relations “suffered twists and turns for reasons known to all,” and people on both sides were not willing to see that. He stressed that the peaceful development of the relations was the shared will and common interests of compatriots on both sides. — Xinhua

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