Strengthening Fujian-Taiwan Exchange to Promote Reunification of Motherland

The steady development of economic and trade exchange and cooperation between Fujian and Taiwan over the past two decades has not only promoted Fujian's reform, opening-up and economic growth, but also has brought a handsome repayment to most Taiwan-funded enterprises in Fujian province. The province is determined to strengthen such exchange and cooperation, so as to make its own contribution to bringing about an early accomplishment of the reunification of the motherland.

After the successive returns of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland, the sacred mission of solving the Taiwan issue and realizing the complete reunification of the motherland has been placed more prominently before the people of all nationalities of the country, including Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese. What will Fujian Province, connected by a strip of water with Taiwan, do to propel Fujian-Taiwan exchange and cooperation and promote the great cause of the reunification of the motherland? With this question in mind, this reporter had an interview with NPC deputies from Fujian.

Deputy Chen Mingyi, secretary of the Fujian provincial Party committee, first gave an account of Fujian-Taiwan exchange and cooperation since the initiation of reform and opening up. He said: Over the past 20 years and more, Fujian-Taiwan economic and trade exchange and cooperation have developed steadily, quality and level have experienced constant rises, personnel contacts and cultural exchanges have become increasingly frequent, a pattern has taken shape, featuring the state of complementing, benefiting and promoting each other and making common development. By the end of last year, the province had approved a total of 5,894 Taiwan-funded projects, contracted value had reached nearly US$10.99 billion, US$8 billion had been in place, Taiwan businessmen came to Fujian for 1,371 exchange items, involving more than 40,000 people on turnstile count; Fujian businesspeople went to Taiwan for 705 exchange items, involving 3,870 people on turnstile count.

Chen Mingyi said: the formation of this favorable situation and interacting state have not only promoted Fujian's reform, opening-up and economic development, but also have brought fairly large repayment for most Taiwan-funded enterprises in Fijian. This is the result of the joint efforts of the people between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, it fully conforms with the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese people, including the Taiwan people, it represents the popular feeling and the general tend of development, no force on earth can obstruct and reverse it.

Xi Jinping, governor of Fujian Province, who attended the NPC session, remarked, "The new situation, emerged in Fujian-Taiwan cooperation after the returns of Hong Kong and Macao to the motherland, has brought a new opportunity for Fujian's development. We should seize this chance to further strengthen Fujian-Taiwan economic, trade, scientific, technological and cultural exchange and cooperation. In the economic and trade aspect, we will strive to set up a "Fujian Experimental Zone for Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation" at an early date, further run existing Taiwan-funded enterprises well, give full play to the exemplary role of the Taiwan business investment districts, accelerate the construction of cross-Strait agricultural cooperation experimental zone, properly grasp the experimental work of direct navigation on the sea, and actively explore ways for launching cross-Strait direct trade. In regard to two-way exchange, we will continue to push forward Fujian-Taiwan popular and folk cultural and artistic exchanges, strengthen Fujian-Taiwan scientific and technological exchange, we will step up cooperation especially in the aspect of preventing natural disaster, so as to bring benefits for the people of Fujian and Taiwan."

"Fuzhou is the capital city on the mainland of the motherland, which is closest to Taiwan, it is also a window displaying the mainland, how Fuzhou is developed affects the image of the mainland of the motherland, we feel the great pressure put on us. "Deputy Weng Fulin, mayor of Fuzhou City, while touching on the topic of strengthening Fujian-Taiwan cooperation, expressed the sense of urgency and his full confidence in the matter. He said, "In recent years, apart from doing a good job in city environmental construction and providing good service for the Taiwan compatriots, we have especially strengthened economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation with Taiwan." On the one hand, we have actively attracted Taiwan's high-tech enterprises to come to invest in Fuzhou; on the other hand, we have learned from their advanced management experience to develop our own high-tech industries; at the same time, we have strengthened cooperation with Taiwan in the agricultural field, introduced their improved breeds and advanced cultivation skill and, processing technology to raise the added value of agricultural produce. The Strait High-Tech Science and Technology Fair held in Fuzhou last year has given a great impetus to the exchange between scientific and technological circles on both sides of the Taiwan Straits."

Weng Fulin said, "The good development momentum achieved in Fuzhou in recent years has won the great admiration of the Taiwan compatriots. The two regions of Fujian and Taiwan have their respective advantages and so have strong complementarity in the economic, scientific and technological fields. We will strengthen Fujian-Taiwan economic and technological exchange and cooperation, so as to make our own contribution to promoting an early accomplishment of the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.

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