The 2013 Cross-Straits Financial Summit Forum is scheduled to take place in the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province, on March 28 and 29.

This year's forum was initiated by professor Zhang Yichun, Chinese financial expert and head of the Financial Research Institute of Xiamen University, following its first forum held at the Wuyi Mountain scenic area, Fujian, in March 2012.

The forum will gather about 300 representatives including financial regulators, entrepreneurs and financial experts on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to discuss feasible solutions for economic development. The media will cover the event.

This year's forum will focus on “cross-Straits financial cooperation to boost the Chinese economy”. The event will discuss topics such as cross-Straits economic and financial policies in hopes of extending economic development on both sides.

As the closest spot on the Chinese mainland to Taiwan, Pingtan Island enjoys advantageous geographical conditions and resources for opening-up. In addition, privileged policies and its new role as an economic pilot zone, approved by the central government, provide Pingtan with ideal development possibilities.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai