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.
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.
"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 the mainland
compatriots' decision to present a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan
compatriots," he said.
"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."
At the heel of the two cuddly pandas, who are yet to be named,
will probably be a flock of travelers from the mainland, following
the mainland's impending go-ahead for its residents to travel to
Taiwan.
Relevant departments of the Chinese mainland will soon allow
mainland residents to tour in Taiwan, said Chen in the
announcement.
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, he
said.
"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.
In the meantime he said that the 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.
The mainland has also made preparations to provide convenience
for fruits from Taiwan in terms of customs pass, inspection and
quarantine, Chen added.
"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."
The trade of farm produce across the Taiwan Straits has been
expanding in recent years, with annual trade hitting US$421 million
in 2004.??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.
(Xinhua News Agency May 3, 2005)