Adviser: Taiwan-funded enterprises should be encouraged to participate more in BRI
CGTN
Skyline of Taipei, China's Taiwan region. /VCG

Skyline of Taipei, China's Taiwan region. /VCG

Taiwan-funded enterprises should be encouraged to participate more in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), so as to maintain stability in foreign trade, Lian Jiede, vice chairman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, or Taimeng for short, said at Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Monday.

Lian added that in order to expand the domestic market share, Taiwan-funded enterprises should also be guided for more active participation in the development of the Yangtze River Economic Zone and the Greater Bay Area.

He also advised on adjusting the favorable policies for Taiwan-funded enterprises and projects in accordance to the changing external environment, enhancing financial support for them, and providing more assistance in employment.

Favorable measures were introduced over the years in order to further promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits. Earlier this month, the Chinese mainland issued a circular that required coordinated efforts to support Taiwan-funded enterprises and such projects amid the coronavirus epidemic.

The Chinese mainland issued a package of "31 measures" in 2018 and another "26 measures" in 2019 aiming to ensure that enterprises and individuals from Taiwan receive the same treatment as those from the Chinese mainland.

Lian said these measures have gained praise in Taiwan, as they have created opportunities for Taiwan-funded enterprises to do business in the Chinese mainland. He added that, thus far, more than 100,000 investment projects launched by Taiwan-funded enterprises have been approved by the Chinese mainland, and these investments have increasingly shifted from flowing to labor intensive manufactures to more valued-added industries.