This was revealed in a 10-point agreement reached yesterday when Zheng Lizhong, vice-director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a one-day meeting with Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Party delegation in Beijing.

"Everything related to the personal interests of Taiwanese patriots would be handled seriously," said Zheng, adding that "every promise made to Taiwanese patriots would be fulfilled."

Relevant departments are doing research on how to open the mainland's patent agent examination to Taiwanese residents, according to the agreement.

Non-governmental organizations authorized by the two sides are being asked to work out feasible measures on the protection of IPR and trademark issues, it said.

The parties also agreed to conduct in-depth research to avoid income taxes imposed on Taiwanese investors and their enterprises by both sides, KMT Vice-Chairman Chiang Pin-kung told reporters after the talks.

According to Chinese law, residents who have lived on the mainland for at least five years must pay taxes on income earned both at home and abroad.

Moreover, the mainland will streamline measures to ensure that Taiwanese employees will enjoy identical social insurance and medical care as their mainland peers, according to the agreement.

In addition, arbitration departments on the mainland are inviting more involvement from the island in protecting the legitimate rights of Taiwanese business people.

"Sixteen local arbitration committees on the mainland have hired 24 arbitrators from the island," said Kao Koong-lian, a professor with Chung Yuan Christian University and a member of the KMT delegation.

In addition, "telephone hotlines will be set up by the two parties on both sides of the Straits to deal with possible business disputes," said the professor.

To benefit the farmers on the island, the mainland side also agreed to allow direct flights to transport agricultural products from Taiwan's Kaohsiung to Fujian Province's Xiamen, the agreement said.

(China Daily 09/19/2006 page2)