At a press conference Wednesday, a Chinese mainland official said China has begun the preliminary work for presenting a pair of giant pandas to Taiwan.

It was announced at the press conference the Chinese mainland has designated the China Wildlife Conservation Association to talk with Taiwan officials about the pandas. Wolong giant panda research center in southwest China's Sichuan province has been selected as the origin of the two pandas.

"We will select a pair of giant pandas aged between one and a half years to four years that are artificially bred in the center and with sound fertility," said spokesman Cao Qingyao of the State Forestry Administration.

"We hope the two sides will start talks as soon as possible," he said.

In a TVBS opinion poll, nearly 70 percent of Taiwan people said they wished to accept the pandas. Several cities, including Taipei and Kaohsiung, are competing to be the pandas' new home.

At the conference, a Chinese mainland official also suggested allowing trade organizations from the two sides to discuss technical details of the sale of Taiwan farm produce to the mainland.

"Technical issues involved in the matter could be discussed by trade organizations of both sides first and then be confirmed by the authorities," said Tang Yi, deputy director of the economic bureau of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council.

"So that Taiwan farmers could benefit from trade with the mainland at an early date," Tang added.

Exchanges across the 150-km-wide Taiwan Straits have been stalled as Taiwan authorities refuse to accept the one-China principle.

According to the press conference, the Chinese mainland has completed necessary preparations to import 15 kinds of fruit from Taiwan without charging tariffs. The mainland will also provide convenient custom clearance, product inspection and quarantine for the fruits.

On May 3, a senior official from the Chinese mainland announced it was opening its market to 18 Taiwan fruits.

The mainland will also establish special business zones in Heilongjiang, Shandong, Sichuan and Fujian provinces for Taiwan farmers, offering them conveniences when they start their business on the mainland.

"We sincerely hope through our efforts, we can help solve the sales difficulty of Taiwan fruits and provide substantive assistance to Taiwan farmers," said Tang.

So far, the mainland has taken concrete steps to honor its promises of pushing forward cross-Straits relations made during Lien Chan and James Soong's mainland visits: presenting a pair of giant pandas as gifts to Taiwan compatriots, opening a tourist route to Taiwan in the near future and expanding market access for Taiwan fruits and applying zero tariff to more than 10 of them.

A few days ago, the mainland announced it was ready to open talks with the Taiwan side on opening a tourist route to Taiwan, which constitutes another boon for Taiwan. 

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2005)