Hiring Taiwan’s businessmen as jurors by a court in Xiamen city is a brilliant move that is good for case settlement as well as cross-Straits ties. It should be promoted across Fujian province, according to Lin Join-Sane, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

You Quan, left, secretary of the Communist Party of China in Fujian province, shakes hands with Lin Join-Sane, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Taipei, July 9. You is on a five-day official visit to Taiwan at the invitation of Taiwan’s ruling party Kuomintang. [Photo by Hu Meidong/China Daily]

Xiamen created the mechanism in 2012, engaging 10 Taiwan entrepreneurs as jurors. Besides attending court hearings of Taiwan-related cases, the jurors are also instrumental in mediating disputes and helping Taiwan compatriots better understand the Chinese mainland’s laws.

“Many commercial cases don’t have to go to court in the first place, but can be settled through mediation, which is convenient for Taiwan businessmen (in Fujian) and can increase court efficiency,” said Lin.

Lin made the remarks at a meeting with You Quan, secretary of the Communist Party of China in Fujian, in Taipei on Wednesday. You is on a five-day official visit to Taiwan at the invitation of Taiwan’s ruling Kuomintang party.

There are nearly 7,000 Taiwan companies engaging in business in Fujian, which has the closest relations with Taiwan due to geographic and historic reasons, said Lin, adding that he hoped Fujian’s authorities will continue to pay attention to the needs of Taiwan.

You Quan said he was impressed by how Kaohsiung Port handles the distribution of containers and dry bulk cargo as it avoids unhealthy competition and sets a good example for ports in Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian.

Fujian is also pushing for industrial connections with Taiwan and a win-win situation, he added.