TAIPEI: Taiwan's conclusion of a financial regulatory cooperation agreement with the mainland tops the 2009 list of the 10 most important news items concerning Taiwan businessmen, according to a local business group.

The agreement, which paves the way for financial institutions in Taiwan and on the mainland to venture into each other's markets, was chosen as the most important news item because of the creative way through which the agreement was inked, said Hanson C.C. Chiang, president of the Chinese Professional Management Association of Taipei, which conducted the survey among its directors and supervisors.

The agreement, which took effect January 16, was signed separately by Taiwanese and mainland financial regulators in Taipei and Beijing, respectively, and exchanged by couriers.

Other news that made the list includes six cross-Straits pacts signed in 2009 by Taiwan's top negotiator with the mainland, Chiang Pin-kung, and his mainland counterpart, Chen Yunlin.

It was followed by Taiwan's formal participation in the World Health Assembly, the launch of the mainland's Western Straits Economic Zone, and Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou's decision to negotiate an economic cooperation framework agreement with Beijing.

The Executive Yuan's publications of regulations governing mainland investment in Taiwan came in sixth place.

The others, in descending order, were the mainland's campaign to sell electrical appliances to people in remote areas, the beginning of postal remittances between the mainland and Taiwan, the acceptance of the mainland's China Unionpay debit cards in Taiwan, and ruling Kuomintang Honorary Chairman Lien Chan's being named as Taiwan's envoy to the leaders' summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

Thanks to Ma's policy of reconciliation with Beijing, all 10 stories are positive developments, said Chiang.

This is in sharp contrast to the top 10 stories of 2008, which featured mainly criminal cases, Chiang went on to say.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 01/28/2010 page2)