"The next five years will be a crucial period for us to tap into this trend and develop the economic zone of the western coast of the Taiwan Straits.

"We will continue to foster an ever more favorable environment for investors from Taiwan," Huang said.

"By favorable, we no longer mean simple promotional measures like tax or tariff exemption, rather, we aim to foster an environment to enable and enhance overall industrial connection between the two sides."

Huang said his province hopes to deepen its cooperation with the island in the hi-tech, financial and logistics industries.

Cultural and historical bonds will be another vital area of focus.

The province, where 80 percent of people in Taiwan have their ancestral homes, will boost cultural exchange and help more people from Taiwan visit their relatives or pay tribute to their ancestors, he said.

Preferential policies will also be handed out to Taiwan farmers by implementing a tariff-free policy for agricultural products imported from Taiwan.

Similarly, the province will upgrade its facilities and improve customs services as part of efforts to become the hub of cross-Straits transportation, he said.

(China Daily March 13, 2008)