Beijing woos Taiwan hearts and minds with Fujian-Matsu investment package
- Multimillion-dollar plan unveiled days before Monday’s presidential inauguration of independence-leaning DPP’s William Lai
- Measures include access to education, property investment and trade opportunities for residents of the Taiwanese-controlled archipelago
Plans for Fujian province’s capital Fuzhou – about 20km (12 miles) from the archipelago, a Taiwanese defence outpost – include industrial cooperation parks, cross-strait trade distribution centres and increased freight shipping.
The 10-point package of measures was unveiled at the opening of the 26th Cross-Strait Economic and Trade Fair on Thursday, with Lai – who has been branded by Beijing as a “separatist” – due to be sworn in as Taiwanese president on Monday.
The measures encompass a wide range of sectors including industry collaboration, trade facilitation, professional qualification recognition, real estate investment and education.
Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, told the trade fair’s opening ceremony that the mainland economy continues to rebound from the start of the year, “showing massive innovative vitality and bright prospects”.
“We will continue to promote exchange and cooperation in all fields between the mainland and Taiwan, and be the first to share with Taiwanese compatriots and enterprises the opportunities and achievements of China’s modernisation,” he said.
