Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan Thursday expressed his confidence of economy and promised Taiwan businessmen good chances in mainland market.

"The mainland market has great potential. We are confident and capable of standing against impacts of global turmoil and overcoming difficulties and challenges," Wang said at a meeting with a visiting Taiwan business delegation headed by Jeffrey L.S. Koo, Chinatrust Financial Holding Co. Ltd chairman.

The mainland economy will maintain a "stable and rapid" development, which is to bring more opportunities for Taiwan businessmen, he said.

"When the global financial turmoil is worsening, the most important thing for us is to maintain stability in domestic economy, financial sector and capital market," he said. "We will try our best to increase domestic demand, especially consumption, and to promote a balance among domestic consumption, investment and export."

The mainland will continue reform and opening-up including liberating trade and investment, he said.

"The two sides of the Taiwan Strait should work together to cope with challenges from the international market."

The mainland will speed up talks on "comprehensive, direct and mutual" links for mail, trade and transport, upgrade industrial cooperation and work to establish an economic cooperative mechanism, he said. "We will improve legal and policy environment to support Taiwan businessmen in the mainland."

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2008)