A fair focusing on trade between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened on Thursday in Dongguan, Guangdong province, aiming to promote the better integration of Taiwan businesses into the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The four-day 14th Dongguan Taiwan Famous Products Fair has attracted more than 700 companies from Taiwan and the Chinese mainland to showcase their products, of which over 70 percent are engaged in the electronic information industry, according to the event's organizers.

The fair is following a general plan for deepening cross-Strait innovative development and cooperation in Dongguan, which was approved by the State Council, China's Cabinet, in early September.

The development environment for Taiwan businesses in Dongguan will be optimized, and they will be guided to engage in building a modern industrial system and forging a cross-Strait common market, the plan said.

The plan also asked for the building of a new platform for exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong and Macao.

Guangdong, a major trade partner with Taiwan and a popular destination for investment from Taiwan since the 1980s, has been making efforts to support Taiwan businesses to actively participate in the construction of the GBA.

Guangdong's trade with Taiwan was more than 92 billion yuan ($12.5 billion) last year, accounting for about one-third of the mainland's trade volume with Taiwan, according to Huang Huihong, director of Dongguan Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau.

As of March, Guangdong has introduced over 32,000 Taiwan-funded enterprises, with actual use of Taiwan investment exceeding $71 billion, according to data from the bureau.

A cross-Strait forum focusing on exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened on Thursday in Zhongshan, Guangdong, hometown of China's democratic revolution forerunner Sun Yat-sen.

The Fifth Zhongshan cross-Strait Forum featured discussions on hot topics, exchanges and cooperation among youth groups from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, according to the event's organizers.

Three subforums were held around the three main themes of politics, economy and culture at Sun Yat-sen University and in Macao and Zhongshan, the organizers said.

A center for introducing talent from Taiwan and transforming technology achievements was also launched during the forum, with 80 doctoral degree holders from Taiwan being invited to visit high-tech companies, sci-tech research institutes and universities in Zhongshan.

The center expects to introduce some 200 people with high-level talent from Taiwan to work at universities, enterprises and technology research centers across Guangdong this year.

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