According to statistics, the province had totally approved over 4,600 projects involving Taiwan investment by the end of last year, and actually absorbed 2.6 billion U.S. dollars-worth of investment from Taiwan.

At present, most Taiwan-invested enterprises in Shandong are operating smoothly, provincial officials said, adding that only 14.3 percent of all such enterprises are in deficit, as against the 48.2 percent that make profits.

In 2001, an additional 65 million U.S. dollars of Taiwan investment flowed into Shandong, and more high-ranking officials of industrial associations and enterprises in Taiwan came to Shandong to make on-the-spot investigations in preparation for future investments.

Last year, about 93,000 people from Taiwan visited Shandong, a rise of nearly nine percent over the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of Shandong visitors to Taiwan hit 900, surging 166 percent over 2000.

Meanwhile, the province has established a special institution to promote its economic and cultural cooperation with Taiwan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2002)