|
Mainland presents giant pandas to Taiwan
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-05-03 09:15
A senior official announced in Shanghai Tuesday morning that the
mainland compatriots have decided to present a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan
compatriots as a symbol of peace, unity and friendship.
Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of Communist Party of China
(CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made
the announcement entrusted by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.
A Chinese panda bites on a bamboo inside a breeding centre at Beijing
Zoo in Beijing March 28, 2005.
[Reuters/file] | He said giant pandas are
known as gem of the Chinese nation and are loved by the Chinese and all people
in the world alike. "For many years, the mainland compatriots have had the wish
to present giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots, and many Taiwan compatriots have
repeatedly expressed their expectations to see the cuddly pandas in Taiwan too,"
he said.
The Taiwan compatriots' desire for giant pandas to settle down on the island
has become ever stronger now when the mainland tour of Chinese Kuomintang (KMT)
party Chairman Lien Chan and the forthcoming visit by People First Party (PFP)
leader James Soong have helped deepen the affection between Chinese compatriots
on the two sides of the Straits, said Chen.
"After discussions and coordination with all parties involved and with
official ratification by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, I am
authorized to announce here the mainland compatriots' decision to present a pair
of giant pandas to Taiwan compatriots," he said early on Tuesday in the eastern
metropolis.
"We hope the pandas, with their tame nature, air of nobleness and cuddly
looks will bring joy and laughter to the Taiwan compatriots, children in
particular," he said. "We hope Chairman Lien Chan and his KMT party, Chairman
Soong and his PFP and all circles of the Taiwan society will make joint efforts
to facilitate acceptance of the donation. And we hope relevant Taiwan
departments in charge of the issue will take into consideration the long-time
expectations of the Taiwan compatriots and approve the donation."
Giant pandas are among the world's oldest and rarest mammals. Alatest Chinese
forestry survey says there are about 1,590 wild giant pandas in the wild and
another 160 are kept at worldwide zoos.
Mainland to lift ban on residents' tour to Taiwan
Relevant departments of the Chinese mainland will soon allow mainland
residents to tour in Taiwan, said Chen.
Removal of the ban for mainland residents to travel to Taiwan will not just
expand people-to-people contacts between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits,
but is conducive to boosting Taiwan's tourism, food and beverage and other
related industries and will bring concrete benefits to the general public in
Taiwan as well, said Chen.
"For reasons known to all, the issue was long pending," he said."The
Kuomintang (KMT) and People First Party (PFP) have expressed on many occasions
the Taiwan compatriots' desire for mainland residents to travel to Taiwan -- the
PFP has come up with specific proposals on this issue."
"Tourism administration and all relevant parties on the mainland welcome
organizations from Taiwan's tourism industry to start consultations with us on
an earlier date in order to make detailed arrangements accordingly," he said.
Chen said it is the mainland's commitment to the Taiwan compatriots to keep
adopting new policy measures to solve issues of the Taiwan compatriots' concern
and to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.
Removal of the travel ban came after Chen's announcement of the mainland's
decision to present a pair of giant pandas to the Taiwan
compatriots.
Mainland opens market wider to Taiwan's
fruits
The Chinese mainland has decided to expand access of Taiwan fruits from 12 to
18 species, and offer zero tariff on at least 10 species of fruits from the
island province, according to Chen.
Chen said that the mainland has also made preparations to provide
convenience for fruits from Taiwan in terms of customs pass, inspection and
quarantine.
"Taiwan's high-quality fruits have high economic value and are a major source
of the farmers' income," he said. "But difficultiesin fruits sales caused by
weather conditions, overproduction and problems in the distribution process
often inflict heavy losses."
The Communist Party of China has reached consensus with the Kuomintang Party
and People First Party to facilitate sale of Taiwan fruits to the mainland, he
said.
After careful evaluations, he said the mainland side has decided to expand
access of Taiwan fruits from 12 to 18 species and to offer zero tariff on more
than 10 species of Taiwan fruits.
"The mainland is ready to provide convenience in terms of customs pass,
inspection and quarantine for Taiwan fruits to access the mainland market," he
said. "We hope relevant Taiwan departments in charge of the issue will give the
green-light for Taiwan agricultural organizations to hold consultations with the
mainland on issues concerning the place of origin certificate, inspection,
quarantine as well as direct transport to improve efficiency and reduce risk."
China's mainland has been actively promoting the sale of Taiwan's farm
produce to help alleviate difficulties of Taiwan farmers. Hu Jintao, general
secretary of the CPC Central Committee, has urged efforts to facilitate the sale
of Taiwan farm produce on themainland.
The trade of farm produce across the Taiwan Straits has been expanding in
recent years, with annual trade hitting 421 million US dollars in 2004. Of this,
the mainland took the delivery of 116million dollars worth of farm produce from
Taiwan, up 10.4 percentyear-on-year.
Currently, Taiwan's aquatic products, fruits, food stuff and tea have entered
the mainland market, where no special restrictions are set against the entry of
Taiwan's farm produce.
The biggest obstacle to the sale of Taiwan's farm produce on the mainland is
the absence of direct flights. As the Taiwan authorities ban direct cargo and
passenger flights across the Straits, the farm produce of Taiwan has to be
transferred to the mainland via a third place, resulting in higher cost, longer
time of shipment and more risks.
Analysts say the selling price of Taiwan fruits and vegetables on the
mainland could be lowered by more than 10 percent if they were shipped directly
to the mainland.
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
Today's
Top News |
|
|
|
Top China
News |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
