China pursues cross-straits IT development

BEIJING, July 6 (UPI) -- Several articles in China's state-run media Wednesday suggest the latest developments in the mainland's strategy to reunite with Taiwan via information and telecommunication technologies.

Vice Premier Wu Yi, the highest-ranking woman in Chinese politics, told a visiting Taiwanese delegation that both sides of the Taiwan Straits should work closely to promote IT and telecom standardization and applications to enhance China's industrial competitiveness.

The delegation, from the Sinocon Industrial Standard Foundation, was led by Chiang Pin-kung, vice chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang, or KMT, party.

The group is visiting Beijing to attend the Cross-Straits Forum on Industrial Standards in the Information Industry. The forum was organized jointly by the SISF, the China Communications Standards Association and the Chinese Electronics Standardization Association.

The SISF includes all of the major IT firms on the island. Wu was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying the mainland welcomed the technology-standards group to work with relevant parties to improve both mainland and Taiwan's global competitiveness.

Wu reiterated the Chinese Communist Party's conditions for negotiations.

"We're ready to talk with Taiwanese parties, organizations and people who adopt the '92 consensus and oppose Taiwan independence and exchange views," she told the delegation.

The forum is the result of a visit by KMT leader Lien Chan in early May, Xinhua reported.

"Strengthening cross-straits economic exchange and cooperation serves the common aspiration and fundamental interests of both mainland and Taiwan compatriots," Wu added.

The vice premier said China will take forceful measures to promote cross-straits economic and trade exchange and listen to Taiwanese views and suggestions on establishing a collaborative mechanism.

Quoting unnamed sources close to the forum, Xinhua's report said, "Information technology across the straits should be mutually complementary, so as to face up to challenges and fulfill common development and a win-win situation."

The report also trumpeted "significant results in technology cooperation" that were achieved at the forum. The trio of standards groups "agreed to build up a long-term communication system to act as a cooperation platform for information standards for professionals across the Taiwan Straits," the Xinhua report said.

Tech professionals on both sides of the straits have held discussions on standardization in the areas of AVS, TD-SCDMA, mobile storage and HD flat-panel displays.

There may be future cooperation in other areas of technology standardization as well. "A similar forum will be held in Taiwan at an appropriate time," the Xinhua report said.

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Edward Lanfranco covers technology and telecommunications in Asia for UPI Science News. E-mail: sciencemail@upi.com