CETRA to tie up with CCPIT of mainland China

Taipei, Nov. 25, 2003 (CENS)--Taiwan's China External Trade Development Association (CETRA) recently reached an agreement with the mainland's China Council for Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) to exchange information about exhibitions and study the feasibility of jointly holding exhibitions across the Taiwan Strait.

Last year CETRA and CCPIT held a seminar in Taipei for the first time. At the seminar, both sides resolved to take turns hold exhibitions across the Taiwan Strait. Recently CETRA president Y.C. Chao led some executives to visit CCPIT to discuss such issues as exhibition business, legal arbitration, seminars, market survey, personnel training, information exchange and exchange of visits by staff of both parties.

Chao said CCPIT will negotiate with mainland's electrical machinery exporters association to participate in the Taipei International Electronics Show slated for the second half of next year. CETRA is considering opening the newly inaugurated Hall 3 of the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) to accommodate the exhibition.

It is for certain that the China International Exhibition Center Group under the auspices of the CCPIT will take part in the Taipei International Medical Equipment & Pharmaceuticals Show slated for November next year at the TWTC. CCPIT said it would arrange visits to the mainland by Taiwan's logistics firms in May or June next year.

According to Chao, CCPIT has promised to provide some outstanding exhibitions for CETRA to participate in. CCPIT also hopes that CETRA will serve as its agent to solicit exhibitors to take part in these major exhibitions held in the mainland.

CETRA and CCPIT will also proceed with exchanges of business and trade experts. CETRA will provide lecturers to help CCPIT train business and trade specialists nationwide.

Both sides have resolved to hold a seminar next June in Taipei concerning mainland property trading and the capital markets across the Taiwan Strait. They will also periodically organize intellectual property seminars in Taipei.

CETRA said it would cooperate with mainland's Beijing Hualian Market Co. to hold a Taiwan Food Festival in Beijing sometime next year to promote Taiwan's locally grown fruits and processed food.