国内英语新闻:Substantial progress made in cross-Strait economic pact talks

Wang said the size of the "early harvest program" has grown "very big" and demands from all industries will be considered by officials. However, he did not reveal details of the program.

Fan Liqing, a spokeswoman of the Taiwan Affairs Office, said earlier at a Beijing press briefing that a high proportion of items proposed by the Taiwan side had been included in the "early harvest program". The number of such items might exceed 500.

"No matter in term of total sum or proportion, the Chinese mainland receives far less benefit than the Taiwan side," she said.

"The mainland has promised to give preferential treatment to Taiwan's 'weak' industries, medium and small businesses, and the farming communities," noted Wang.

Despite wide expectation that the deal could be signed by the end of this June, officials were cautious not to give a specific deadline.

Wang said the ECFA would inject new life into Taiwan's economy, improve its competitiveness and give it an edge in handling challenges created by the integration of other regional economies.

"The ECFA will create new room for the development of Taiwan," he said.

Senior officials attending the forum from both the mainland and Taiwan again voiced their support for the pact.

China's top political advisor, Jia Qinglin, said Sunday that signing the ECFA would benefit the long-term development of both economies and bring new opportunities to mainland-Taiwan exchanges and cooperative ventures.

Huang Ming-hui, vice chairwoman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party, said the ECFA is a significant agreement and would have a very large economic impact once it is signed.

Huang said she appreciated that the mainland and Taiwan could consider each other's special needs and make compromises in the negotiations -- a clear break from the decades-old hostility towards each other.