BOAO, Hainan: Beijing yesterday unveiled a new policy package to benefit
Taiwan farmers in a major effort to promote cross-Straits agricultural
co-operation.
Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of
China (CPC) Central Committee, announced the package at the closing ceremony of
the one-day Cross-Straits Agricultural Co-operation Forum.
The comprehensive package is comprised of 20 preferential policies formulated
by Chen's office and another 10 central government departments.
Under the policies, Taiwan investors will enjoy tax incentives, financial
support, preferential land use as well as simplified approval and registration
procedures for their agricultural businesses on the mainland.
To encourage more agricultural investment from Taiwan, the mainland will set
up three more cross-Straits agricultural co-operation pilot zones in Shanghai
and Jiangsu Province, and another two development parks for Taiwan farmers in
Sichuan Province and Chongqing.
Provincial governments on the mainland will offer a "green corridor"
transportation service for fresh agricultural goods from Taiwan to reduce their
transport costs, according to the policies.
Mainland authorities also vowed to crack down hard on fake Taiwan fruits and
piracy and counterfeiting to better protect the intellectual property rights of
Taiwan producers and sellers.
The goodwill gesture "will play a positive role in improving the wellbeing of
compatriots on both sides, especially farmers," Chen said.
He stressed that the mainland will earnestly implement its solemn commitments
to Taiwan compatriots no matter what the circumstances.
Since last May, Beijing has taken a number of goodwill gestures towards
Taiwan farmers, including tariff-free imports of about 30 varieties of
Taiwan-grown fruits, vegetables and aquatic products.
At a press conference after the announcement, former Kuomintang (KMT)
Chairman Lien Chan spoke highly of the mainland's preferential policies towards
Taiwan farmers.
These policies and measures "have brought substantial help to Taiwan's
farmers and agriculture," he told reporters
Lien added that the achievements of the forum would help "turn over a new
page" in cross-Straits agricultural co-operation.
