Cross-Straits economic, trade forum opens in Beijing    

A forum on economic and trade affairs across the Taiwan Straits opened in Beijing Friday morning, and the establishment of direct shipping service will be one of the major topics.

Lien Chan delivers speech

Lien Chan calls for peace, prosperity across Taiwan Straits

Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, called for peace and common development across the Taiwan Straits at the opening of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum on Friday in Beijing.

Lien, who attended the forum leading a KMT delegation, reiterated his stance on the cross-Straits relations and hoped that proposals put forward at the two-day forum could boost the development of the cross-Straits ties in the future.

His topic is "Peace and Prosperity -- Common Aspiration."

Cross-Straits trade crucial for Taiwan's economic growth: Lien Chan

The booming trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan plays a key role in Taiwan's economic growth over the past six year, Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said Friday at the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum in Beijing.

Lien said the opening of the Chinese mainland market has helped Taiwan maintain an annul economic growth of 3.57 percent in the past six years despite dwindling domestic demand and declining consumption.

Lien Chan opposes demonizing, smearing Chinese mainland's development

The world should not demonize or smear the development of the Chinese mainland, nor regard it as a threat, Chinese Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan said in Beijing Friday.

The Chinese mainland provides market for countries like the United States and Japan, promotes their production efficiency, increases their people's purchasing capacity, relieves their deficit or economic stress and helps channel their investment into industries with high added-value, Lien said.

Lien made the remarks at the opening of the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Forum.