Senior CPC officials and the chairman of PFP attended the opening ceremony and made keynote speeches.

Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said in his keynote speech that the forum was held to implement the communique signed by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and James Soong, chairman of the People First Party (PFP) in May. The forum was also a crucial step for the two parties to further communication and dialogue.

"Over the past four months, the CPC, the KMT party and the PFP have vigorously implemented their consensus and have made substantial progress. The mainland is trying its best to turn its promise into action," said Jia, who is also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

He said positive elements in cross-strait relations that are conducive to containing "Taiwan independence" activities have grown thanks to joint efforts of compatriots on both sides.

He also admitted that the fight to oppose and contain activity that promotes "Taiwan independence" remains severe and complicated.

"Containing 'Taiwan independence' secessionist activities remain the primary task of compatriots on both sides at present," he said.

Jia also raised a four-point proposition on improving economic exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.

First, the two sides should shelve their differences and strive to create a sound environment for economic exchanges and cooperation. A solution could be found to the political differences of the two sides through negotiations based on the "1992 consensus", which embodies the "one China" principle.

Second, concretely pushing forward the realization of three direct links across the Strait in compliance with the wishes of the people. The breakthrough point for the direct links lies in the direct passenger plane and chartered cargo plane flights, said Jia.

He said the mainland side is willing to adopt flexible, practical and effective practices to facilitate non-governmental organizations on both sides to negotiate over passenger plane and cargo plane flights as quickly as possible modeled on the Spring Festival chartered flights.

Third, elevate the level of cross-Strait economic exchanges and cooperation through using new and high technology to upgrade traditional industries, beefing up exchanges and cooperation in the financial and other service sectors, optimizing the structure and geological location of cooperative projects and beefing up exchanges and cooperation on new and high technology and basic science.

Fourth, establish a cross-Strait economic cooperation mechanism to normalize, regulate and stabilize cross-Strait economic relations. The mechanism mainly consists of a conference system and a coordination agency to discuss major issues in cross-Strait economic exchanges and cooperation, coordinate investment and trade policies and adjust allocation of resources and division of labor so that the economies of the two sides are complementary.

James Soong said in his speech that without a stable cross-strait relationship, the Taiwan economy could not realize sustainable development at all.

He stressed that facing up to the challenges brought by economic globalization, the economies of the two sides should be mutually complementary. The primary issue for the realization of economic integration of the two sides is convenient transportation.

He said the integration of the advantages of the enterprises of the two sides would enhance the competitive force of the enterprises in the international market. Therefore, a trust system in the economic field should be established across the Strait, so as to realize the healthy development of the enterprises on both sides.

More than 120 scholars and business figures from both sides of the Strait will discuss issues such as the economic development of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan businessmen's investment in the mainland, direct air and shipping links across the Strait, the prospect of agricultural exchange and cooperation between the two sides, and improvement in cross-Strait investment and trade during the two-day forum.