Since its inauguration in 1997, the China Xiamen Machinery and Electronics Exhibition (CXMEE) has gained increasing attention and recognition, thanks to the concerted efforts of all parties related. It has become an important platform for machinery and electronics enterprises across the Taiwan Straits to trade, exchange and bond with each other and to jointly tap into the global market. On the eve of the 13th CXMEE, on behalf of the Department of Mechanic, Electronic and High-tech Industries of the Ministry of Commerce, I’d like to convey my warmest congratulations.
2008 is a milestone year in the history of the economic and trade relations across the Taiwan Strait. The mainland-Taiwan relationship has undergone positive changes, dialogues between the two sides have been resumed on the basis of the “Consensus of 1992”, and comprehensive two-way direct postal, commercial, air and shipping links have been established across the Taiwan Straits. As a result, there has been more frequent interaction between people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, closer economic connections, more buoyant cultural exchange, and broader public interests, and the cross-straits relationship has embarked on a path of peaceful development.
Industries, in particular machinery and electronics, across the Taiwan Straits, enjoy a structurally mutual complementary relationship, and there is vast room for cooperation in the electronics, telecommunication, home appliance, and machinery industries, which is the prerequisite and foundation for strengthening cooperation and securing win-win results. Facts have demonstrated that by strengthening cooperation, the mainland’s industrial strength has constantly improved, while the rapidly expanding mainland market has provided Taiwanese enterprises with a superb stage for competition and substantial profits. In 2008, trade between the mainland and Taiwan reached USD 155.10 billion, up 9.1 percent year-on-year, with Taiwan enjoying a surplus of USD 103.34 billion. In the same year, machinery and electronics trade between the mainland and Taiwan topped USD 85.46 billion, up 2.4 percent year-on-year, accounting for 55.1 percent of the total trade across the Taiwan Straits. The mainland’s imports from Taiwan were valued at USD 70.32 billion, up 1.1 percent, while the mainland’s exports to Taiwan were worth USD 15.15 billion, up 8.9 percent.
Considering the expanding impact of the ongoing international financial crisis, it’s important for us to continue strengthening cooperation across the boarding in order to jointly cope with the financial crisis, maintain the steady growth of the trade of machinery and electronic products across the Taiwan Straits, and promote mutual economic development. As an important platform for the Ministry of Commerce to strengthen trade with Taiwan and consolidate cross-straits exchange and collaboration, CXMEE is poised to play a greater role as a bridge for cross-straits trade. We’re confident that with the strong support of all segments of societies on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and the vigorous coordination efforts and hard work of the Organizing Committee and exhibitors, CXMEE will make more contributions to the development of trade and mutual economic prosperity across the Taiwan Straits.
Last, I wish CXMEE a great success.
Zhang Yi,
Director, Department of Industries, Ministry of Commerce
March 20, 2008