国内英语新闻:Top political advisor meets with Taiwan finance delegation

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Jia Qinglin called for closer financial ties between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan while meeting with Fredrick Chien, the head of a Taiwan finance delegation here on Thursday.

Jia, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People' s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said that financial cooperation was crucial for the cross-Straits economic bond. With the signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), financial cooperation had made substantial progress and entered a new stage.

Jia said closer financial cooperation across the Strait would help financial industries on both sides to fend off international risks and benefit the economic growth of both sides.

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin (R), who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shakes hands with Fredrick Chien, head of a Taiwan financial delegation to the mainland for trade talks, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 9, 2010.

Fredrick Chien, also the president of Cathay Charity Foundation, agreed to cooperate and to seize the opportunity to create a win-win situation.

The ECFA, taking effect on Sept.. 12, is widely seen as a landmark deal to enhance cross-Strait economic cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Under the agreement, the two sides pledged to gradually reduce and remove trade and investment barriers, and continue discussing agreements for commodities trading, and trade in services and investments.