Mainland, Taiwan hold high-level financial forum

BEIJING, April 10 -- The mainland and Taiwan held a

high-level financial forum during the 13th China Xiamen Machinery and

Electronics Exhibition.

The "Forum on the Economy and Trade across the Taiwan

Strait" opened on Wednesday in Xiamen, a port on the western side of the Strait.

The theme was the expansion of financial cooperation

and service to small businesses. The participants discussed possible solutions

to the financial crisis.

Well-known Chinese economist Mao Yushi urged

financial institutions from Taiwan to enter the mainland market and invest in

smaller companies.

Sound bite: Mao Yushi of the Beijing Tianze Economic

Research Institution: "The most obvious character of the economy of Taiwan is

that its overall economy depends on small and medium-sized enterprises, rather

than large ones. Coincidentally, this is the weak point of the mainland's

financial groups. In my opinion, it is a good idea to introduce the financial

groups in Taiwan to the mainland and show us how to serve small enterprises"

Participants expressed optimism about how financial

cooperation from both sides could help smaller companies.

Sound bite: Hong Du, Chief Executive of the

Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation: "Many business people from Taiwan work

in the mainland; many of them are familiar customers for these financial groups.

They have an equal credit level and they are well-aware of the investment risks.

Hence, it would be easier for them to deal with loan issues here in the

mainland." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xiamen.

(XHTV)