New policies to boost cross-Strait agricultural cooperation

A series of new policies aimed at boosting agricultural cooperation across the Taiwan Strait were announced at a cross-Strait agricultural forum held on Tuesday.

The policies were announced by Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee at the one-day forum, held in Boao in the southernmost island province of Hainan.

The policies encourage Taiwan-based agricultural organizations, enterprises and farmers to set up agricultural development zones and cooperate with their counterparts on the Chinese mainland.

Chinese laws and regulations allow Taiwan farmers to establish private businesses in agricultural development zones on the Chinese mainland, the policies say.

Fiscal support will be given to infrastructure construction while the agricultural cooperation and development zones are being built.

A number of approved agricultural cooperation zones in Sichuan and Jiangsu provinces and in the municipalities of Chongqing and Shanghai are already being brought into operation, the policies say.

Farm products fairs and sales promotion programs are highly encouraged, and an undertaking has been made to provide better quarantine and customs services.

The other major points of the policies are as follows:

-- In addition to east China's Fujian Province, agriculture products from Taiwan will be allowed to enter the mainland market in Shantou, south China's Guangdong Province.

-- Agricultural and business affairs authorities on the Chinese mainland will set up websites featuring a consultation service for Taiwanese investors.

-- Applications for the import of seeds and legal trade on wild plants and animals will be simplified.

-- Local governments across the Chinese mainland will provide a fast and open transportation service for Taiwanese agricultural products.

-- Those pirating trademark rights of Taiwan agricultural products, including fruit from Taiwan, will be punished.

Source: Xinhua