Fujian Province has launched an accelerated initiative to establish itself as a premier demonstration zone for cross-Strait integration, marking a significant advancement in China’s national reunification strategy. Governor Zhao Long formally announced this strategic pivot during his government work report at the fourth session of the 14th Fujian Provincial People’s Congress.
The coastal province, positioned directly opposite Taiwan, will implement comprehensive measures spanning economic, social, and cultural dimensions. Central to this initiative is the creation of a pioneering cross-Strait common market designed to streamline market access for Taiwan-funded enterprises while fostering innovative small-scale trade mechanisms between Fujian and Taiwan.
Industrial collaboration will prioritize four key sectors: electronic information, mechanical equipment, petrochemicals, and biomedicine. The provincial government plans to establish specialized Taiwan-related industrial parks to facilitate these cooperative ventures, building on the impressive 2025 figures that saw 2,612 new Taiwan-funded enterprises established with actual utilized Taiwan capital reaching $724 million.
Beyond economic integration, Fujian is developing extensive institutional frameworks to attract Taiwanese compatriots through enhanced education opportunities, internship programs, and employment pathways. The province will expand professional qualification recognition and initiate over thirty joint rural development projects.
Cultural connectivity forms another critical component of the integration strategy. Fujian will promote the ‘Taiwan Compatriots Root-seeking Platform’ and advance legislative measures concerning cross-Strait family genealogies. Grassroots exchanges will be encouraged through shared sporting activities including baseball, softball, and dragon boat racing, complementing recent cultural successes like the television drama ‘The Silent Glory’ filmed in Fujian that has resonated across the Strait.
Infrastructure development features prominently in the integration roadmap, with plans to deepen ‘living circles’ between Xiamen-Jinmen and Fuzhou-Matsu. Critical utility projects delivering water, electricity, and gas to Jinmen and Matsu will be expedited, while Xiamen is scheduled to complete its section of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge within the year.
The initiative aligns with the commencement of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), positioning Fujian at the forefront of cross-Strait relations development.