Taiwan residents confident in mainland opportunities

Taiwan compatriots said they have more confidence in seeking opportunities on the Chinese mainland after the promotion of cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation was highlighted in the report to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

While delivering the report at the opening session of the congress on Oct 16, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said, "We have always shown respect and care for our Taiwan compatriots and worked to deliver benefits to them."

The mainland will continue to promote economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, and encourage people on both sides of the Straits to work together to promote Chinese culture and forge closer bonds, the report said.

Efforts will be made to advance integrated development in all fields, and improve systems and policies that contribute to the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, said the report.

Lin Yen-chen, who is from Taiwan and is a doctoral student at Peking University's School of International Studies, said that these statements demonstrate "the mainland's love and concern for Taiwan compatriots and also reflect people's will".

They provide reassurance to Taiwan people who study and work on the mainland, and also give encouragement to those on the island who are willing to come to the mainland for exchanges and cooperation, he said.

It's expected that in the future development of cross-Straits relations, the mainland will continue to strive for peace, stability and communications between the two sides, and there will be sufficient support for Taiwan residents seeking opportunities on the mainland, he added.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a news conference on Oct 26 in Beijing that the mainland will continue to promote the integrated development of the two sides, and introduce more policies to give equal treatment to Taiwan residents.

Before the end of the year, a number of cross-Straits exchange activities will be held in various places on the mainland to boost communication, including many targeting young people. Fujian province will host the 10th Straits Youth Day, with an estimated 3,000 young people from Taiwan invited to attend, he said.

In recent years that Taiwan compatriots living on the mainland could experience the tremendous achievements made in its development and enjoy the broad space provided for their study and career development, according to Ma.

They are optimistic about the development prospects of the mainland, so they are more willing to integrate into its overall development, and contribute efforts to promoting the reunification of the motherland, he said.

Ma condemned the Democratic Progressive Party authorities of Taiwan for their "independence "attempts and called on Taiwan residents to be vigilant against the serious harm such attempts may bring.

Lin, the Taiwan student, said some young people in Taiwan have a fear of the mainland, mainly because they fail to understand the CPC and the socialist system, which is largely a result of the DPP's malicious smearing of the mainland and its suspension of cross-Straits exchanges.

Since studying in Beijing in 2017, Lin said he has participated in many cross-Straits exchanges and found that more contacts will change their perspective of the mainland.

"Many young people from Taiwan who used to support the DPP become more objective after visiting the mainland and communicating with mainland people," he said.

Lin Tse-yuan, who is originally from Taiwan and is now an associate professor at East China Normal University's School of Communication, said young people in Taiwan should come and see the mainland for themselves.

Although young people on both sides of the Straits hold different opinions on some issues, it is good for them to continue exchanges and even heated debates will help, and the premise of these debates should be that they are willing to understand each other, he said.