Chinese business leaders praise cross-strait ties

Delegates to a summit of Chinese business leaders held on Tuesday praised the peaceful development of ties between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan over the last four years, saying the trend is in line with international expectations and has benefited people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) have held eight rounds of talks since 2008, resulting in a total of 18 agreements.

Founded in 1991 and 1990, respectively, the ARATS and SEF are authorized by the mainland and Taiwan to hold negotiations and handle cross-strait affairs.

Charles H.C. Kao, founder and chairman of the Commonwealth Publishing Company, said he believes the peace and mutual benefit created by the peaceful development of cross-strait ties will expand in the future.

Dominic Ng, chairman of the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent Chinese-Americans, said the peaceful development of cross-strait ties is in line with international expectations.

Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou said cross-strait ties have gradually improved and become more steady since 2008.

Delegates to the summit were also optimistic about the future of Chinese around the world.

Kao said the Chinese mainland, especially Shanghai, has changed a lot in the past two decades.

Ng said the Chinese can contribute more to peace and economic development around the world. He urged the delegates to share ideas about cross-strait business and academic exchanges at the summit.

The summit was founded in 2003 by the Global Views Monthly, a magazine under the Commonwealth Publishing Company. It has since become a platform for global Chinese business leaders to exchange ideas on important issues.

This year's two-day meeting brought together nearly 400 Chinese delegates from the United States, the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.