Taiwan compatriots confident in developing mainland

Taiwan compatriots who work or study in Beijing have expressed confidence in the development of the Chinese mainland and their expectations for the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits after a visit to an exhibition showcasing achievements made over the past 10 years.

The exhibition, Forging Ahead in the New Era, at the Beijing Exhibition Hall, includes a demonstration of achievements in deepening cross-Straits integration, curbing separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence", and safeguarding the prospects for peaceful reunification.

At the area demonstrating cross-Straits exchanges, a picture showcasing several young volunteers from Taiwan providing services at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics during this year's Spring Festival holiday is displayed on the wall.

One of them is Chen Wen-cheng from Changhua in Taiwan, a teacher at the Department of Physical Education at Peking University. Chen, who visited the exhibition on Saturday, was a leader of a volunteer team for the Winter Games — consisting of seven students studying at universities in Beijing and three young people working in the city.

"I feel excited, but more moved. It's a great memory," the 32-year-old said after seeing his picture at the exhibition. "I will contribute more efforts to cross-Straits exchanges and help more Taiwan young people see the development on the mainland."

Chen Szu-chun, of Taiwan's New Party and who currently works in Beijing, said at the exhibition he saw that the mainland has achieved its first centenary goal — winning the battle against poverty — and made great strides in all aspects in the past decade.

However, Chen said he felt a little pity that there was no Taiwan region in the display area focusing on the development of the provincial regions, even though the outcome of cross-Straits exchanges and efforts to achieve the reunification of the two sides are demonstrated.

"On the way to the second centenary goal, Taiwan will not and cannot be absent," he said. "I hope in the future I can see the Taiwan region in the exhibition and people in Taiwan can live better lives after reunification."

Shen Hung-jui, from New Taipei City of Taiwan and now a graduate student of world economy at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "My deepest feeling is that the motherland really cares about and supports those of us from Taiwan. I hope the two sides can achieve reunification as soon as possible as it's beneficial to people in Taiwan."

Shen said he often encourages his friends in Taiwan to pay visits to the mainland and see the place for themselves so that they can understand that the mainland is completely different from what they see in some Taiwan media.

"I have visited some once-impoverished counties in Sichuan province, and saw their development," he said, adding, "Taiwan people should take an objective view of the mainland's system and they will find the system really brings the country better development."

Chou Yu-chieh, a senior student from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, visited the exhibition with other students from Taiwan and said she was impressed by the high-tech achievements on display.

"I will consider pursuing graduate studies at a university in Beijing," said the 21-year-old who is on a half-year exchange program at Renmin University of China in Beijing, as she wants to experience the culture on the mainland.