Cross-Straits co-operation on
intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and arbitration will be improved
in handling disputes involving Taiwan business people's investments on the
mainland.
This was revealed in a 10-point agreement reached yesterday when Zheng
Lizhong, vice-director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China
Central Committee, held a one-day meeting with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang
(KMT) Party delegation in Beijing.
"Everything related to the personal interests of Taiwanese patriots would be
handled seriously," said Zheng, adding that "every promise made to Taiwanese
patriots would be fulfilled."
Relevant departments are doing research on how to open the mainland's patent
agent examination to Taiwanese residents, according to the agreement.
Non-governmental organizations authorized by the two sides are being asked to
work out feasible measures on the protection of IPR and trademark issues, it
said.
The parties also agreed to conduct in-depth research to avoid income taxes
imposed on Taiwanese investors and their enterprises by both sides, KMT
Vice-Chairman Chiang Pin-kung told reporters after the talks.
According to Chinese law, residents who have lived on the mainland for at
least five years must pay taxes on income earned both at home and abroad.
Moreover, the mainland will streamline measures to ensure that Taiwanese
employees will enjoy identical social insurance and medical care as their
mainland peers, according to the agreement.
In addition, arbitration departments on the mainland are inviting more
involvement from the island in protecting the legitimate rights of Taiwanese
business people.
"Sixteen local arbitration committees on the mainland have hired 24
arbitrators from the island," said Kao Koong-lian, a professor with Chung Yuan
Christian University and a member of the KMT delegation.
In addition, "telephone hotlines will be set up by the two parties on both
sides of the Straits to deal with possible business disputes," said the
professor.
To benefit the farmers on the island, the mainland side also agreed to allow
direct flights to transport agricultural products from Taiwan's Kaohsiung to
Fujian Province's Xiamen, the agreement said.
(China Daily 09/19/2006 page2)
