'Unlimited opportunities' in Yangtze Delta

More than 600 government officials and enterprise representatives attended a conference in Shanghai on Thursday held to encourage the participation of Taiwan companies in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region.

Li Qiang, Shanghai’s Party secretary, said at the opening ceremony that as one of China's most economically active, open and innovative regions, the Yangtze River Delta is a land for entrepreneurship and innovation with unlimited business opportunities.

He also pointed out that Shanghai was one of the areas on the mainland with the most active cross-Strait cooperation, the largest number of Taiwan business people and residents, and where Taiwan people travel to and from the mainland most frequently.

“Shanghai is now dedicated to accelerating its efforts in adding the Lingang area into the pilot free trade zone, establishing the STAR market and building up a demonstration area for ecological integrated development in the Yangtze River Delta region,” he said. “All these also provide broad space to deepen cross-Strait cooperation. We welcome more Taiwan entrepreneurs and enterprises to come to the region and set more headquarters and platforms in Shanghai. We welcome more Taiwan compatriots to come to share our development opportunities and more young people from Taiwan to come to Shanghai to work or initiate startups.”

He said Shanghai would fully enforce policies issued by the central government in favor of people from Taiwan, providing more convenience for them to work and live in the city and contributing more to enhance cross-Strait cooperation and deepen integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.

Guo Jinlong, president of the mainland-based council for the cross-Strait entrepreneurs annual conference, said integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region meant more market, investment and growth opportunities and the conference, as a civic exchange platform, would actively help Taiwan-invested enterprises integrate into the development of the region and the nation to boost the Chinese economy.

Liu Jieyi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Party’s Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the regional integrated development strategy would provide new opportunities for Taiwan entrepreneurs and enterprises and he wished them to grasp the opportunities to achieve better development.

He said the mainland will continue to promote cross-Strait cooperation, deepen integrated cross-Strait development and provide more chances for Taiwan citizens to share development opportunities on the mainland.

He said only a good cross-Strait relationship can ensure a better future for Taiwan and its citizens. He urged that they promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and reunification of China, contributing to national rejuvenation.

Siew Wan-chang, president of the Taiwan-based council for the cross-Strait entrepreneurs annual conference, said the integrated development strategy for the Yangtze River Delta region provided precious transformation opportunities and development space for Taiwan-invested enterprises. He said enterprises from both sides of the Strait should explore new cooperation models and new business opportunities to achieve win-win results.