Trade fair in Dongguan links mainland with Taiwan

A fair focusing on trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened on Thursday in Dongguan, Guangdong province, to promote better integration of Taiwan businesses into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

"We hope to make full use of the fair's platform to showcase advanced design, process technology and marketing of Taiwan products to more customers and better tap domestic customers," said Li Yingyao, an associate manager of Modern Home Lighting Inc, a Taiwan-invested company.

The company, which was founded in Dongguan in 1992 with a primary focuses on contemporary hardware lighting and furniture, showcased its high-quality glazed products — including glazed chandeliers, which are known as one of the five great Chinese artifacts.

The four-day 14th Dongguan Taiwan Famous Products Fair attracted more than 700 companies from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland to showcase innovative products and technologies. Of those, more than 70 percent are engaged in the electronic information industry, according to the event's organizers.

Electronics, cultural and creative products, services, food, tea and other Taiwan specialties from more than 20 counties and cities on the island were on display at the fair.

The event followed a general plan for deepening cross-Strait innovative development and cooperation in Dongguan, which was approved by the State Council in early September.

Through Dongguan's exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan and its resource endowment in the Greater Bay Area, the city is focusing on sci-tech innovation and advanced manufacturing, along with further opening-up based on factors of production and institutions.

The role of Taiwan compatriots and companies will be given full play, according to a circular issued by the State Council on Wednesday.

The development environment of Taiwan businesses in Dongguan will be optimized, and they will be guided to engage in building a modern industrial system and forging a cross-Strait common market, the circular said.

The circular also pointed to creating a new platform of exchanges and cooperation for the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong and Macao.

Guangdong, a major trade partner with Taiwan and a hot destination for Taiwan investment since the 1980s, has been making efforts to support Taiwan businesses as they participate in developing the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Guangdong's trade with Taiwan amounted more than 92 billion yuan ($12.6 billion) last year, accounting for about one-third of the mainland's total trade volume with Taiwan, according to Huang Huihong, director of Dongguan's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau.

As of March, Guangdong had introduced more than 32,000 Taiwan-funded enterprises, with actual use of Taiwan investment exceeding $71 billion, according to the bureau.