Authorities announce the opening of the Cross-Straits Arbitration Center at a ceremony in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province, Dec 29. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Opening of the Cross-Straits Arbitration Center was announced at a ceremony in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province, on Dec 29, according to ptnet.cn.

The organization, the first of its kind in China, was approved by the State Council and launched by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Its mission is to make it easier to solve cross-Straits civil and commercial disputes and advance cooperation in trade and legal affairs across the Straits.

The authorities said that from now on, Taiwan people who work, live or study on the Chinese mainland can entrust the center to solve their commercial or property disputes through arbitration and mediation, or by reference to Taiwan's civil law if it does not violate the mainland's basic legal principles or public interest.

Jiang Zengwei, head of the CCPIT, said that having such an organization in Pingtan is a necessity and contributes to creating a better business environment for cross-Straits economic cooperation.

He Rong, vice president of the Supreme People's Court, also said that the center has a bright future and strong legal support, since two new judicial interpretations of Taiwan-related disputes were issued by the top court this past June.