Cross-Strait ECC meeting kicks off in Taiwan

Taipei (Taiwan), April 26 (Xinhua-ANI): The third regular meeting of the Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Committee (ECC) opened Thursday morning in Xinbei City of Taiwan.

The Chinese mainland and Taiwan will review and assess the implementation of the "early harvest program," a program that lowers or eliminates tariffs for certain goods and services traded between both sides, under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA).

Also on the agenda are updates on the accomplishments of the ECC's six working groups, a discussion regarding responses to the changing global economic situation and the exploration of the international market, as well as discussions on the ECC's future efforts.

Zheng Lizhong, convener of the ECC on the mainland and executive vice president of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, said the meeting was occurring at a time when the mainland and Taiwan were "carrying cross-Strait ties forward and forging ahead into the future."

The meeting would be significant for both sides in terms of consolidating their achievements, deepening cooperation and breaking new ground in the development of cross-Strait ties, Zheng said. (Xinhua-ANI)