First Taiwan trade center in mainland

In a sign of closer economic ties between Taiwan and the Mainland of China...

Taiwan's leading trade promotion agency opened its first office in the Chinese mainland in Shanghai on Tuesday.

The Taipei World Trade Center opened its Taiwan Trade Center Shanghai Representative Office on Tuesday.

The Shanghai office will serve Shanghai, Zhejiang Province and Kunshan City in Jiangsu Province, home to many Taiwanese businessmen.

It will not only serve Taiwanese businessmen, but also mainland companies.

The Taipei World Trade Center will also set up more representative offices in other cities across the mainland, in the near future.

SOUNDBITE: WANG CHIH-KANG, Pres of Taipei World Trade Center

"We will open another office in Beijing by the end of the year - and plan to open offices in Qingdao, Dalian, Guangzhou and Chengdu in 2013."

The official says the Shanghai office will help Taiwanese businessmen tap the Chinese mainland market and invite mainland firms to invest in Taiwan.

To boost collaboration between service industries on both sides of the strait.