Business Communities across the Taiwan Straits Look Forward to ECFA

10-04-15 08:51　source: CXMEE

The China Xiamen Machinery & Electronics Exhibition (CXMEE) was staged in Xiamen from April 8 to 11. During CXMEE, 21 forums, symposia, seminars and briefings were held, where representatives from the business communities across the Taiwan Straits, and scholars and experts explored a wide range of topics and reached various consensuses.

CMXEE, authorized by China’s Ministry of Commerce, is jointly organized by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronics Products, the Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association, the Xiamen Municipal People’s Government. The scale of this year’s CXMEE expanded by 30 percent, setting a new record. More than 800 exhibited at CXMEE in 2,547 booths, including 500 ones for Taiwanese enterprises and Taiwan-funded enterprise. Nearly 30,000 visitors from more than 20 countries and regions explore business opportunities at CXMEE.

Zheng Lizhong, Deputy Director of the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office stated at the CXMEE opening ceremony that over the past 14 years, CXMEE, as the earliest mega-exhibition of machinery and electronic products, has witnessed the evolution of the relationship across the Taiwan Straits and embodied the wisdom and endeavors the business communities across the Taiwan Straits, especially Fujian Province and Xiamen City. CXMEE has emerged as an essential bridge for economic and trade cooperation across the Taiwan Straits and delivered remarkable results.

Zheng Lizhong stated that a series of significant breakthroughs have been made in the across-straits relations and both sides are working together to cope with the impact of the global financial crisis and to consulting with each other to sign an Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA). Given the different economic sizes and market conditions on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, the mainland will pay due attention to the interests of Taiwan’s small and medium-sized enterprises and consuming public, especially Taiwanese farmers. In order to avoid an impact on Taiwan’s comparative weak industries and SMEs, the initial plan will not involve agricultural products. Both sides will work to accelerate the negotiation process and conclude the ECFA as soon as possible to promote mutual development.

Li Chongde, a representative of Taiwan’s business community, also spoke at CXMEE, elaborating on the capital operations and financial models of enterprises on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. He said that ECFA will enhance the mutual complementation of the advantages of the industries on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, improve their international competitiveness, and boost the close ties between the two sides.

Merchants taking part in the Cross-Straits Special and Premium Commodities Fair also expressed their hopes for an early ECFA. A Taiwanese coffer maker representative said that ECFA will lower the tariffs on Taiwan’s exports to the mainland and help them win more dealers and distributors, and that ECFA will also allow mainland residents to enjoy a greater range of Taiwanese products and boost the competitive advantages of products on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.