More than 200 entrepreneurs and experts from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan convened in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, on Sunday at a forum seeking ideas for innovation and economic cooperation.

"The sound and continuous economic cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan has become an important factor that contributes to the stability of the relations between the two sides," said Zheng Lizhong, a senior mainland official in charge of the Taiwan affairs.

Zheng, executive deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, encouraged Taiwan enterprises in the mainland to bring their competitive edge in innovation into full play.

The mainland has over the years created a favorable environment for innovation-oriented enterprises with increasing efforts in strengthening intellectual property rights protection, which is beneficial to Taiwan companies, Zheng said at the forum on innovative development of enterprises.

The cooperation between enterprises, however, has to rely on the peaceful and stable ties between the mainland and Taiwan, which is currently under the threat of the secession forces on the island, Zheng said, urging Taiwan compatriots to work together with mainland people to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2007)