Common market touted

A cross-strait common-market promoter said yesterday that Taiwan and China should give priority to economic affairs and then negotiate political topics. Chan Hou-sheng (詹火生), executive director of the Cross-Strait Common Market Foundation, made the remarks at a symposium about the opportunities and challenges to Taiwan entrepreneurs brought by China's economic reforms. The foundation, established by former premier Vincent Siew (蕭萬長) in March last year, was founded to promote a model that emulates the European Economic Community. Chan said that foundation members have visited China several times and have had positive reactions from the US, Japan, Australia and many European countries.