Mainland China and Taiwan have reached an agreement on the items in which China is to be permitted to invest in Taiwan. New-town development and sewerage construction of the 12 i-Taiwan projects and manufacturing and service businesses are included in the list, as a part of the "cross-Taiwan Strait bridging program," according to Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN).

Photovoltaic, in-car information/communications, aircraft, LED (light emitting diode) lighting, wind power, auto, foodstuff, logistics, precision machinery, and information service are covered in the bridging program, while flat panel display and semiconductor are not included in the list despite strong interest of Chinese investors, as the government still bans Taiwanese from investing in the two lines in China.

The forming of the list is in accordance with the Taiwanese government’s principle of positive listing for Chinese investments, which was approved by the Executive Yuan (the Cabinet) on April 22.

Further opinions on the investment list will be exchanged by both sides in the upcoming cross-Strait talk in China. And the conclusion of the talk will be included in the measures governing Chinese investments in Taiwan, the draft of which is being reviewed by the Executive Yuan.

China’s state enterprises and government agencies are prohibited in the draft prohibits from investing in industries with monopolistic or oligopolistic nature, such as power and petroleum, national defense industry, or hi-tech firms involving sensitive technologies.