BOAO, Hainan Province: The Communist Party of China (CPC) and Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) yesterday pledged to join hands in promoting the interests of farmers on both sides.

The promise came at the end of the one-day Cross-Straits Agricultural Co-operation Forum, which was part of the exchanges between the two parties.

In a seven-point joint proposal endorsed at the closing ceremony, they urged the agricultural sectors across the Straits to work together for the welfare of millions of farmers on both sides.

The proposals range from encouraging agricultural investment from Taiwan and facilitating imports of the island's agricultural produce to establishing agricultural technological co-operation mechanism.

Their joint efforts contrasted with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration's fear of closer agricultural exchanges with the mainland.

Jia Qinglin, a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said agricultural exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan are still at an early stage.

"There is still huge potential for cross-Straits co-operation that needs to be fully tapped," he said at the opening ceremony.

Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said the agricultural sectors should make better use of each other's advantages, given their highly complementary nature.

The advantages include the mainland's abundant labour, land and market resources and Taiwan's capital, advanced agricultural technology and marketing expertise.

The event, co-organized by the CPC and the KMT, was attended by more than 400 officials, business leaders and academics.

Despite political tensions across the Straits, agricultural co-operation has increased since the 1980s. At the end of last year, the number of Taiwan-funded agricultural firms on the mainland had reached nearly 5,000, with actual investment of US$4 billion.

During his speech, Jia extended an invitation to Taiwan people to participate in the mainland's drive to build a new socialist countryside, which is aimed at improving the livelihoods of its 750 million farmers.

The top official pledged to better protect the legitimate interests and rights of Taiwan investors as well as their intellectual property rights.

Lien Chan, former KMT chairman, said deepening co-operation between the agricultural sectors would help sharpen their competitive edge to better cope with challenges posed by the World Trade Organization membership.