Shanghai has opened a receiving and service center for Taiwanese compatriots to protect their legal rights in the eastern metropolis, the municipal government announced Tuesday.

Beginning operation since this month, the center would mainly provide consultation and assistance for Taiwanese compatriots on investment, employment, education, and living, said Gu Honghui, deputy director of the municipal office on Taiwan affairs.

The center would also deal with the complaints from the Taiwan-invested enterprises in Shanghai, receive the Taiwan fishermen and handle emergencies related to Taiwan compatriots, said Gu.

Shanghai has become one of the favorite places for Taiwan compatriots to invest in the Chinese mainland since the Taiwan residents were allowed invest and live in the mainland in the 1980s.

According to GU's bureau, more than 5,700 Taiwan-invested enterprises had been approved to set up in Shanghai and the accumulative investment had exceeded 13.7 billion US dollars by this September.

(Xinhua News Agency November 2, 2005)