The city of Pingtan, Fujian province says it will improve its status as a center for experimental development in cross-Straits cooperation over the next 5 years, to turn itself into a smart, ecological island zone and international tourist site by taking advantage of its preferential policies and its role in the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone.

The announcement came from provincial authorities in a description of their 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020), ptnet.cn reported on Nov 23, adding that this is means a big boost to local authorities, entrepreneurs and local residents.

Yuan Yuzhi, an official in Pingtan's Aoqian district, says they will develop the tourism business and logistics with the focus on trade with Taiwan in the plan to help the county reach its goal of becoming an international tourist island and a common home for people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Jin Jixian, deputy GM of a Taiwan-funded e-commerce company, says that Pingtan will have a better business environment thanks to this and that they expect more Taiwan entrepreneurs to come looking for business, while some residents say they hope to build a better Pingtan with Taiwan people and suggest that the county's infrastructure should be improved.