China forum endorses cooperation

CHANGSHA, China, July 12 (UPI) -- Chinese mainland and Taiwanese participants in an economic, trade and culture forum agreed to cooperate on many levels, the event's leadership said Sunday.

"The forum not only pointed out why the two sides should push forward cultural and educational exchanges and cooperation, but answered how to achieve the goal," said Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference said of the fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum.

Acknowledging the two Chinas share common language, the forum proposed scholars cooperate to develop software that will bridge gaps between simplified and traditional Chinese characters, the state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported.

Other suggestions for cooperation included conservation of antiquities, setting up media bureaus in each other's territory, creating joint television and film projects, and allowing universities to exchange students.

"The forum is open and comprehensive," said Wang Yi of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Taiwan Work at the closing ceremony. "People are welcome here to sit together and have peaceful discussion as long as they agree to improve the cross-strait relations and do something concrete for people from both sides."