(Multimedia) PPD urged to eliminate restrictions on cross-strait exchanges and cooperation

BEIJING, March 28 (Xinhua) — A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday urged Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party (PPD) authorities to respect the island’s prevailing public opinion for peace and development and remove the restrictions that impede cross-strait exchange and cooperation.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks in response to a media inquiry on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), a comprehensive economic pact between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan , which came into force more than a decade ago.

Since implementation, ECFA and its early harvest program have brought tangible benefits to companies on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and have been widely recognized, Chen noted.

However, due to well-known reasons, the already signed accompanying services trade agreement did not come into force, which was a major setback to Taiwan’s economic and industrial development and the advancement of people’s interests, Chen said.

What has happened in the past decade has made more and more people and companies in Taiwan realize that only when cross-Strait relations are solid can people and companies in Taiwan benefit more, he said.

Responding to a media question about cross-strait exchanges, Chen said PPD authorities have not lifted the ban on non-governmental exchanges from the mainland to Taiwan, nor have they lifted the ban on group tours from Taiwan to the mainland.

Noting that peace, development, exchanges and cooperation are the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Chen called on DPP authorities to remove obstacles to cross-Strait exchanges as soon as possible.