China announced yesterday it will allow Taiwanese to invest in wholly-owned shipping and container transport firms and operate ports and highways, in Beijing's latest attempt to woo the nation with economic sweeteners.
The unilateral announcement by Chinese Vice Communications Minister Xu Zuyuan (
"I hope this forum can further enhance development and cooperation in the shipping sector across the [Taiwan] Strait," Xu said in a speech as the two-day forum ended.
Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤) dangled the carrot of the country's booming economy and vast market at the forum on Saturday.
About 500 businessmen and officials from the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) attended the forum -- the third since 2005 when China rolled out the red carpet for pan-blue politicians as part of a divide-and-rule tactic to isolate the Democratic Progressive Party.
The olive branch came days after a row between China and Taiwan over the torch route for next year's Olympic Games.
Despite the political standoff, trade, investment and tourism between the two sides have blossomed. Taiwanese investors have poured up to US$100 billion into China.
Separately, Taiwan's brand name textile manufacturers are setting their eyes on China's vast market where consumers' purchasing power has been steadily increasing.
A delegation representing 10 well-known garment companies in Taiwan, led by officials from the Taiwan Textile Federation (TTD), visited department stores in three of China's major cities -- Chengdu, Tianjin and Beijing -- this month before returning home last week.
TTD officials told reporters yesterday they felt that China, with its vast population, is a market full of opportunities.
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