A non-governmental forum of elites from both sides of the Taiwan Straits that aims to promote economic cooperation and exchanges across the Straits is scheduled to open in Shanghai Thursday, organizers said Wednesday.

The forum is jointly sponsored by the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Policy Research Center of Taiwan's People First Party (PFP).

The upcoming first session of the forum is regarded as a major step in implementing the communique of talks between General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Hu Jintao and PFP Chairman James Soong in May.

More than 100 well-known scholars of economic circles from across the Straits will attend the forum, said Jiao Yang, spokesman for the Shanghai Municipal Government.

They include 68 representatives from Taiwan invited by the PFP and 75 from the Chinese mainland.

During the two-day forum, scholars will discuss economic development in the Chinese mainland, investment by Taiwan business people in the Chinese mainland, direct flights across the Taiwan Straits, agricultural exchanges and cooperation across the Straits, and the normalization of investment and trade across the Straits.

"The forum is an important event in the exchanges between the CPC and PFP," Jiao said. "Shanghai will do everything it can to ensure a smooth meeting."

PFP Chairman James Soong arrived here Wednesday afternoon to attend the forum.

Source: Xinhua