The Chinese mainland and Taiwan are exploring ways to achieve mutual benefit from closer ties in southwestern China's Chengdu City on Saturday.

The two-day meeting is the seventh annual forum on economy, trade and culture. They vowed to further implement the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) and clear the way for individual tourism.

A total of around 450 representatives from the mainland and Taiwan are seeking ways both regions can benefit from closer ties, while vowing to further deepen cooperation.

Top political advisor Jia Qinglin has called for further implementation of the ECFA, while noting that plans on both sides of the strait echo each other.

"The mainland's Twelfth Five Year Plan dedicated an entire chapter to the development of cross-strait ties," Jia said. "This is the result of improving ties, and demonstrates our sincere hope to bring benefit to the people on both sides. We also note that Taiwan has a blueprint for a 'Golden Decade,' which also places a priority on deepening economic cooperation. This is unprecedented. "

Jia says the two sides will try their best to arrange cross-strait travel for individuals by the end of June. Supporting cooperation between small and medium size enterprises is also high on the agenda. Jia says both sides should provide favorable financing, taxation policies.

The Kuomintang's Honorary Chairman Wu Pho-Hsiung echoes Jia Qinglin, saying that peace and development is the right direction for cross-strait ties.

"In the past couple of years, the mainland and Taiwan have seen peaceful development across the strait, and bit by bit, we see the progress," Wu said. "It didn't come easily. We should cherish this. We don't want to see the trend being stopped or going backwards. Or it would be a misfortune for the people. We should use our wisdom and make efforts to show the people it's the right way to go."

He also says improving ties with the mainland has contributed to recent increases in Taiwan's GDP growth and a drop in the unemployment rate.

Taiwan exported more than $30 billion worth of products to the mainland in the first quarter, up 14 percent year on year.

The representatives are due to talk about educational and cultural cooperation as well as youth exchanges. Taiwan has finished the application procedures for two thousand mainland students pursuing further studies in the island's universities.

(CNTV.cn May 7, 2011)