Second cross-Straits talks on Taiwan businessmen's rights on mainland scheduled

The Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang (KMT) Party in Taiwan have scheduled a second round of talks for September 18 and 19 on the protection of Taiwan businessmen's rights on the mainland.

The decision was made at a meeting between Zheng Lizhong, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the CPC Central Committee, and Chiang Pin-kung, KMT Vice Chairman, in the coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian Province.

The talks will focus on devising a working mechanism which will protect Taiwan businessmen's legitimate rights and interests on the mainland. Officials will also exchange views on how to improve the protection of the rights and interests of mainlanders in Taiwan.

Experts and businessmen from the two sides will be invited to the talks.

The first such talks were held on November 1, 2005, during which they reached a consensus in investigating issues over land disputes concerning Taiwan businesses on the mainland, implementing laws to protect Taiwan investment and strengthening public security in areas densely populated by Taiwan businessmen.

The mainland officials also promised to take measures to further facilitate mutual exports and imports, offer development loans to Taiwan's small and medium-sized enterprises fit for the mainland's industrial policies and increase the number of arbitration agencies that employ Taiwanese arbitrators.

Other issues agreed upon on the first talks included opening access for Taiwan businessmen to invest in hospitals on the mainland by cooperating with mainland businesses, expanding schooling channels for Taiwan children and simplifying procedures for mainland employees in Taiwan businesses to take training courses in Taiwan.

Source: Xinhua