Guangxi, Taiwan build economic ties via fruit, tourism

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The Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has sent a purchasing delegation to Taiwan. It's part of cooperation efforts to help Taiwan cope with the economic downturn. As Zheng Junfeng tells us, fruit is high on the shopping list.

Tainan county is famous for its fruit. The Guangxi delegation spent 2 million yuan in one single purchase. That's the biggest single deal from the mainland for local fruit farmers.

Huang Chenqing, Taiwan County Farming Assoc., says, "the mainland consumers can get a taste of Taiwan through eating our fruits. Our fruit farmers are also enabled to extend their market to more places."

But that's only a tiny part of Guangxi's shopping plan. In total, the delegation from the mainland has spent 180 million US dollars on a range of products.

Taiwan businesses say Guangxi is key to expanding their market in the Mainland and beyond.

Huang Yingying, Taiwan Huaize Corp., says, "Guangxi borders on Vietnam and thus has a gateway to Southeast Asia. We hope we can explore the Vietnamese market through cooperation with Guangxi."

Liu Shusen, Commerce Chief of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, says, "now is a new start for economic cooperation between Guangxi and Taiwan. And the future is promising."

The tourism authorities of both sides also signed a memorandum. It calls for working together to allow Nanning, the capital of Guangxi, to offer visa-on-arrival service to Taiwan travellers.