2015年CRI Wang-Koo Meeting Witness Welcomes Historic Xi-Ma Meeting

 

The "Wang-Koo meeting" refers to a meeting held in Singapore in April 1993 between Wang Daohan, head of the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation. The meeting paved the way for the improvement of cross-Strait ties.

Ch'iu Chin'i, former vice¹ chairman of the Taiwan Straits Exchange Foundation, says he has been waiting for this moment for 22 years.

"I am really moved and excited, because it is the first time for the leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to have such a meeting after 22 years. The hand-shaking is a historic moment. This is an epoch-making milestone² for cross-Strait relations."

Ch'iu says he hopes the meeting will be a good momentum³ that will let Taiwan participate in the dream of the Chinese nation, and then be involved in the programs like the 'Belt and Road' initiative and the Asian Infrastructure⁴ Investment Bank.

Meanwhile, Taiwan businesspeople in the Chinese mainland have expressed their confidence for the future development of cross-Strait relations after the historic meeting.

At present, over 50,000 companies in the Chinese mainland are owned by Taiwan business people. 

Chou Feng-chen, is with an association representing Taiwan businesspeople based in south China's Guangdong province.

She says they all expect cross-Strait exchanges to be better facilitated.

"Of course we expect the cross-Strait exchanges to become smoother, simpler and easier. For example, we will transfer investment to the service sector⁵. In addition to restaurants, we will invest in education or the finance sector in the Chinese mainland. It will be easier for us to do this. So I think these are our expectations."

Hsu Hsueh-jung, a Taiwan businessman in Jiangsu Province, says he believes people in Taiwan will be relieved by this historic meeting, which will benefit the environment for businesses.

"I believe this historic meeting will make us Taiwan people more relieved. So we can do more sincere and friendly businesses and push forward further communications. This is the most important."

Latest stats from the Ministry⁶ of Commerce show trade between the mainland and Taiwan reached some 138 billion U.S. dollars in the first nine months of this year.

Mainland imports from Taiwan more than tripled that of exports to the island during the period.

Taiwan is the mainland's seventh largest trade partner and the sixth largest source of imports.

For CRI, I'm Xie Cheng.

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

3 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。