Elevating exchanges to forge cross-Strait ties

Over the past three decades of exchange, the landscape of cross-Strait education has gradually matured, she said. Early visiting students from Taiwan have now grown into educators themselves, increasingly finding employment across the Chinese mainland in institutions ranging from kindergartens to vocational schools and universities.

"They bring their own regional culture, such as Minnan and Hakka, to the Chinese mainland," Chen said.

At the same time, the education in Taiwan often emphasizes on the students' humanities, aesthetic appreciation, cognitive development, and social practice, which can be better integrated into the basic education system on the Chinese mainland through primary and secondary school teachers.

However, discrepancies in educational frameworks and syllabus requirements make teacher certification a major obstacle for educators looking for cross-Strait exchange. While rapid credential recognition is available in the demonstration zone for integrated cross-Strait development in Fujian province, Chen said there is an urgent need to expand these practices nationwide to smooth the path for incoming teachers.

The migration of teachers in Taiwan also reflects the political and professional conditions on the island. "Educators who advocate the correct historical view face pressure and limited career growth under the Democratic Progressive Party administration," she said.

Teachers from Taiwan are drawn to the career mobility on the Chinese mainland, she said, adding that more teachers and their students from Taiwan are expected to visit the Chinese mainland and develop deep exchanges.

Apart from education, Chen identified the similar aging populations across the Taiwan Strait as a critical area for cooperation, rooted deeply in the shared traditional Chinese virtue of filial piety.

According to the political adviser, successful health and elderly care facilities supported by Taiwan enterprises have already operated in provinces such as Jiangsu, which are frequently studied by mainland operators for their meticulous and professional standards.

"This elderly care market is vast," Chen said, encouraging more Taiwan enterprises to bring their management concepts and technologies to the Chinese mainland to jointly boost the national health and wellness industry.