国内英语新闻:Mainland, Taiwan see rosy economic prospect after signing of ECFA

BOAO, Hainan, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Entrepreneurs and economists of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have considered the expected signing of a cross-Strait economic pact as a top priority in further development of their trade relations.

The long-awaited Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA), aiming to normalize mainland-Taiwan economic ties and bring the two economies closer, is hoped to be signed by the end of June.

Fredrick Chien, chief advisor of Taiwan's Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, said here Sunday the ECFA will be an "extremely important" agreement to strengthen future development of cross-Strait relations.

"As long as we make this stride, the cross-Strait economic and trade exchanges will get much closer," Chien said at the Boao Forum for Asia annual conference which concluded Sunday in southern island province of Hainan.

He jointly presided over a round-table meeting with Dai Xianglong, chairman of the mainland's National Council for Social Security Fund.