ECONOMIC and trade exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are facing a historic opportunity and need joint efforts from both sides for further progress, Hu Jintao, CPC Party chief, said Saturday.

    Hu made the remarks while meeting Vincent Siew, chairman of the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan Province, which opened Saturday.

    Hu said under the new circumstances, the mainland would continue promoting cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.

    The mainland would also make efforts to push forward negotiations on weekend charter flights and tours to Taiwan by mainlanders, Hu said.

    He said the mainland would continue to be concerned about Taiwan compatriots’ welfare and step up efforts to restore cross-Straits negotiations and talks.

    Hu said the fact that the forum was attended by so many participants from China and abroad showed Asian countries’ and regions’ strong desire to reinforce cooperation and seek win-win solutions.

    Siew said the economies of the mainland and Taiwan were closely related, and the development of trade and economic relations had contributed to cross-Straits stability.

    He hoped the weekend charter flights program would be launched as soon as possible and mainland tourists would soon travel to Taiwan, adding that direct flights and normal trade ties had become inevitable.

    Hu said cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation had made prominent progress after 20 years of development. Facts proved that the economic exchanges and cooperation were the most vigorous factor in cross-Straits relations and an effective way to benefit people on both sides and expand their common interests.

    Hu pointed out that in the past eight years, the cross-Straits relations “suffered twists and turns for reasons known to all,” and people on both sides were not willing to see that.

    He stressed that the peaceful development of the cross-Straits relations was the shared will and common interests of compatriots on both sides. In a speech delivered at the opening ceremony, Hu reaffirmed that China would keep to the path of peaceful development, follow the opening-up strategy and be dedicated to a harmonious world.

    He said peaceful development was a “strategic decision” made by the Chinese government and people on the basis of China’s realities and in keeping with the trend of the times.

    “Peaceful development is the only way leading to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said.

    More than 1,700 politicians, business leaders, intellectuals and journalists from around the globe gathered in the scenic town for the forum, focusing on building a “Green Asia,” that concluded yesterday.

    Established in 2001, the forum is a pan-Asian platform for dialogue on key issues relating to Asia and the world.

    (Xinhua)