Mainland, Taiwan to open more cross-Strait trade offices

Two more economic and trade organizations are setting up cross-Strait offices, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Wednesday.

The two include Taiwan Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association, which has opened office in Suzhou City and will open another in Dongguan City, and mainland's Association of Economy and Trade across Taiwan Straits, which got permission to have office in Taiwan last month.

Ma expressed his hopes for smooth operation of the offices that will boost cross-Strait cooperation in economy and trade.

According to Ma, the mainland's Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products has set up an office in Taipei, and the Taiwan Trade Center has established offices in six mainland cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

Ma said that, in December 2014, the State Council approved the establishment of a pilot free trade zone in Fujian Province with policies to be stipulated.

In response to a question, Ma said that a work group of small- and medium-sized enterprises has been newly set up under the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Committee (ECC), to promote communication.

The ECC is a negotiation platform initiated in January 2011, following the 11th provision of the ECFA, to handle follow-up negotiations.