CRI听力：Beijing Taiwan Affairs Office

 Reporter: "Hello, this is the Beijing Taiwan Affairs Office inquiry line. How can I help you?"

This is the genial voice of an operator on the Beijing Taiwan Affairs Office inquiry hotline, 8408-0428—this no doubt sounds very familiar to many Taiwan compatriots living in Beijing. Since it opened in 2003, the hotline has answered questions and solved problems of Taiwan residents, covering such areas as investment, equal opportunity rights, social welfare, medical care, mortgage application, employment, and departure registration. Lu Hui, supervisor of the hotline, proclaims proudly that the hotline has become a significant window of communication for native Taiwan people.

 "Back in 2003, we designed and distributed a leaflet containing relevant information and the hotlines number, aiming to promote our services to Taiwan compatriots. As soon as the hotline became known to the public, we were overwhelmed by the influx of calls, covering various aspects of life and work in Beijing. The hotline opens up a bridge of communication for our Taiwan compatriots."

However, the hotline is only one of the many endeavours designed by the affairs office to help Taiwan compatriots. In addition, the capacity of the website: "Beijing-Taiwan Online", was also enlarged and renovated to offer the latest news, economic information and policy moves to Taiwan compatriots. The publication, "A Handbook For Taiwan Compatriots Living in Beijing", provides a comprehensive information service. As far as these measures are concerned, a total of 16 information "items" are now in circulation, ranging from investment, work, study, travelling to everyday life— all targeted at providing wide-ranging and quality services to Taiwan residents in Beijing.

Furthermore, the Beijing municipal government also seeks to improve complaints resolution mechanisms and facilitate further Taiwan investment in local regions. The Taiwan Investment Consultation Service Centre and the Complaint Coordination Centre were set up to divert and deal with complaints and consultation services. Zhou Hengzhao, administer of the complaint coordination centre, is in charge of overseeing various complaints concerning the interests of Taiwan business people in Beijing.

 "The complaints mainly fall into the following categories: contract dissension, piracy entanglement and other disputes over administration, lawsuits, arbitration and criminal offences."

According to Zhou, since its establishment in 2003, every year, the Investment Complaint Coordination Centre has received hundreds of filings in each category. It plays a significant role in the Taiwan community of Beijing.

He Guangqi, a Taiwan businessman, gets very excited when talking about the help rendered him by the coordination centre. He came to Beijing for business purposes back in 1993. In 1997, he introduced the popular Taiwan hotpot chain, Xiabu, Xiabu, into the Chinese mainland. However, the operation of the company met with some difficulties in 2005. He had to contact the coordination centre twice, where to his surprise they quickly resolved the situations. What impressed him most was a case of logo infringement.

"......the opponent used our logo, which clearly imitated our business model and pattern. We went to the Taiwan Affairs Office for help. They contacted the Haidian District Administration of Industry and Commerce, as well as the Beijing Logo Administration Department immediately. Through coordination with several related departments, they finally stopped the piracy. I really appreciated the efforts they made to solve the problem."

He speaks highly of the efficiency and pragmatism the coordination centre shows in the service of local Taiwan investors. This reinforced his determination to invest in the mainland. He believes that with the efforts of the coordination centre, Beijing's investment environment will further improve, and intellectual property rights protection will be enhanced.

To date, his little hotpot chain has spread to 70 locations all over Beijing. It has become He Guangqi's main area of business in the mainland. He points out that the rapid development of the mainland economy, substantial market potential, together with favourable business policies from the government, have all attributed to the success of Xiabu Xiabu.

 "Taiwan investors have faith in the mainland's investment environment as well as its preferable investment policies. The market is enormous, containing a potential customer base of over a billion people. It is an irresistible magnet for the catering sector. The stability of policy making, and the sustainable prosperity of the domestic market are all factors that attract overseas investment.

As far as we know, the number of Taiwan enterprises like Xiabu Xiabu in Beijing has reached about 2,000, covering the areas of agriculture, manufacturing, real estate, catering, social services, culture and education. They have become a prominent force behind the capital's economic boom.

The Taiwan Affairs Office also serves as a bridge for communication and understanding between government leaders and Taiwan business people. In 1995, under the promotion of the Taiwan Affairs Office, Beijing set up the mayor's reception day for Taiwan investors. It has become an occasion where government leaders can meet and solicit opinions, suggestions and requirements from Taiwan business people. The direct benefits of such meetings is the acceleration of the government's approach to problems of prevalent importance.

 "The primary functions of our service can be summarised as organization, management, guidance and co-ordination. It is our job to integrate resources available, and to motivate relevant departments to offer better services to our compatriots from Taiwan."

It's hard to list all the endeavours and measures that have been taken by the Taiwan Affairs Office with the limited time on today's programme. Although it appears to Zhou Hengzhao that his job is simple and plain, he's being modest. The great efforts, enthusiasm, wisdom and strength which are present every day at the Taiwan Affairs Office has made many Taiwan compatriots settle in to their new life in Beijing.Thank you, Ning Yan, for this report. China Horizon will continue right after this.