Mainland outlines measures to boost cross-Strait integration

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday detailed steps to implement the Taiwan-related section of the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), pledging to advance cross-Strait peaceful development and integration while expanding opportunities for Taiwan residents and businesses.

Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a regular press briefing that the 15th Five-Year Plan, newly approved by the National People's Congress, provides top-level design and strategic guidance for Taiwan-related work over the next five years.

According to Chen, key measures will focus on boosting cross-Strait economic cooperation, including rolling out supportive policies for Taiwan-funded enterprises, encouraging industrial collaboration, and fostering a common market.

The mainland will support the development of the Fujian cross-Strait integrated development demonstration zone, as well as cooperation hubs in Pingtan in east China's Fujian Province, Kunshan in east China's Jiangsu Province and Dongguan in south China's Guangdong Province.

Qualified Taiwan-funded firms will be encouraged to list on mainland stock markets, alongside the development of multi-tiered financial markets, Chen said.

The mainland will also deepen exchanges across the Strait by improving policies and mechanisms to facilitate economic and cultural cooperation, expanding people-to-people exchanges, and enhancing collaboration in areas such as education, healthcare and social services.

Measures will aim to ensure equal treatment for Taiwan residents studying, working and living on the mainland, while promoting shared access to public resources.

Special emphasis will be placed on youth and grassroots engagement, with expanded opportunities for young people from Taiwan to pursue careers and development on the mainland, Chen noted.

In the course of the next five years, the mainland will introduce additional measures to facilitate cross-Strait travel, work to restore and expand tourism exchanges, and promote closer, deeper interactions between people on both sides, he said.

Addressing opportunities arising from the mainland's emphasis on developing new quality productive forces, Chen said Taiwan enterprises can upgrade traditional industries through digital and intelligent transformation, expand into emerging sectors with new technologies and products, and tap into future industries by leveraging the mainland's innovation ecosystem.

"The next five years, a significant stage for the mainland's development, will also be a period of great opportunities for Taiwan residents and enterprises," Chen said.