The Chinese mainland and Taiwan are expected to ink a cross-Straits pact on trade in services on Friday in Shanghai. If signed, it will be the third follow-up pact after the two concluded the landmark ECFA back in 2010.

The Chinese mainland is expected to open up a total of 65 areas in the service sector to Taiwan, including E-commerce, finance, and telecommunications. Meanwhile, Taiwan will allow the mainland access to 55 fields including finance, medical care and travel agencies.

Currently the services industry accounts for about 44 percent of the mainland's GDP and nearly 70% of Taiwan's. The services pact is said to be able to help advance the establishment of a "common market" across the Taiwan Straits.

A welcoming ceremony has been held for Lin Join-sane, chairman of the Straits Exchange Foundation.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)