Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China, delivers a speech during the signing of a cooperation agreement on supporting development of Taiwan-funded businesses with Huaxia Bank of the Chinese mainland in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2006.  (Xinhua Photo)

Officials from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of China and Huaxia Bank of the Chinese mainland sign a cooperation agreement on supporting development of Taiwan-funded businesses, in Beijing, capital of China, July 10, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)

    BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Huaxia Bank of the Chinese mainland intends to provide financial support and services totaling 20 billion yuan (about 2.5 billion U.S. dollars) to Taiwan-funded businesses over a five-year period, according to an agreement signed on Monday.

    The cooperation agreement on supporting development of Taiwan-funded businesses was signed between the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the bank, a joint-stock commercial bank.

    The measure will "further improve the fund-raising environment of Taiwan-funded businesses and facilitate their growth on the mainland," said Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

    Chen said the "active" measure shows the mainland's sincerity in fulfilling its commitment to treat conscientiously everything that concerns Taiwan compatriots, as required by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

    Liu Haiyan, chairman of the board of directors of Huaxia Bank, said the bank will strive to establish a sound fund-raising platform for Taiwan-funded businesses to promote their growth on the mainland and advance economic and trade exchanges across the Taiwan Straits.

    The bank signed credit extension agreements with 12 Taiwan-funded businesses on Monday. Enditem