More than 1,100 Shenzhen-based Taiwan business people gathered at a ceremony Monday where the city honored 22 Taiwan companies and seven businessmen.

The gathering, held at the China Folk Culture Villages, was also a celebration of the Moon Festival for the local Taiwan community.

The high-profile celebration was attended by the city's top leaders including Huang Liman, chief of Shenzhen Municipal CPC Committee and Shenzhen's top legislator.

According to Lin Jie, head of the Shenzhen Taiwan Affairs Office, since the first Taiwan investor came to Shenzhen 21 years ago, 3,660 Taiwan businesses have set up in the city, with an actual investment of more than US$4.6 billion. Last year, Taiwan businesses were responsible for one quarter of Shenzhen's exports.

More than 50,000 Taiwan people are now living in Shenzhen, and their businesses employ 600,000 people.

On top of the honored business list is Foxconn Group, the largest Taiwan investor on the mainland. It was declared China's number one exporter in 2002 by China's Ministry of Commerce.

Following the ceremony was a string of entertainment, including a dragon boat race. The race featured 20 teams, 12 of which were from the local Taiwan community.

(Shenzhen Daily September 9, 2003)