Premier Li meets delegation from Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation

Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met a delegation from the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, led by its honorary chairman Vincent Siew, in Boao, Hainan Province.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets a delegation from the Taiwan-based Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, led by its honorary chairman Vincent Siew, in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, March 27, 2019. [Photo/Xinhua]

Li praised the foundation for its efforts in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and pushing forward pragmatic cooperation between the two sides.

"It is in line with the fundamental wellbeing of people on both sides of the Strait to uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, oppose 'Taiwan independence,' work for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and advance the process of the peaceful reunification of the motherland," Li said.

Li lauded the significant contributions made by Taiwan entrepreneurs and Taiwan-funded enterprises to the economic development of the mainland and said Taiwan entrepreneurs are welcome to continue investing on the mainland.

"The existing preferential policies will remain and the legitimate rights and interests of Taiwan entrepreneurs and Taiwan-funded enterprises will be protected by the law," Li said, adding that new preferential policies would also be offered.

Taiwan-funded enterprises could refer to provisions of the newly-adopted foreign investment law and enjoy the same treatment as mainland enterprises, Li said, adding that they would benefit from the mainland's tax and fee cuts.

"We are willing to expand imports of farm produce and aquatic products from Taiwan and provide more conveniences and favorable conditions," Li said.

Li also pointed out that the mainland hopes to increase cross-Strait exchanges in economy and culture, promote the integrated development of the two sides and let compatriots from Taiwan be the first to share opportunities brought by the development of the mainland.

"We will also listen to Taiwan compatriots' opinions and roll out more policies and measures to offer equal treatment to compatriots of Taiwan coming to the mainland for travel, study, living and work," Li said. "We will do our best to benefit compatriots of Taiwan."

Siew said people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese descendants and should support each other, adding the Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation is willing to work with the Chinese mainland to promote integrated development of both sides of the Strait and consolidate the foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.