Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you. Let us invite Mr. Luo for an introduction. 

Luo Dongchuan:

I will introduce to you how Fujian province has promoted the integrated development of Fujian and Taiwan. Fujian and Taiwan face each other across the sea, with the shortest distance between the two regions being just 68 nautical miles. Furthermore, Fujian is the ancestral home for the majority of Taiwan compatriots, as approximately 80% of Taiwan people trace their ancestral roots back to Fujian. Relevant documents and historical records indicate that people from Fujian, particularly from the cities of Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, and Xiamen, moved to Taiwan during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911). As a result, there exists a profound connection between the people of Fujian and Taiwan, characterized by shared blood ties and a deep sense of affinity. People on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are considered one family, and those hailing from Fujian and Taiwan are among the closest within this extended family. When he served as a senior official in Fujian, General SecretaryXi Jinpingattached great importance to cross-Straits exchange and the integrated development of Fujian and Taiwan. He took charge of work on the integrated development of Fujian and Taiwan and advanced a series of major initiatives related to Taiwan.

In recent years, Fujian province has firmly implemented the Party's overall strategies for addressing Taiwan question in the new era, promoted in-depth people-to-people exchanges across the Straits, and established the "first home" for Taiwan residents and enterprises to settle down on the Chinese mainland. All of these efforts have laid a solid foundation for building a demonstration zone for the integrated development across the Straits.

Fujian has become the most active region for cross-Straits people-to-people exchanges. Each year, it hosts over 200 cross-Straits exchange activities for connecting clan relatives and promoting folk traditions, affinity, folk beliefs, history, and culture. The Straits Forum, the largest platform for folk exchanges, has convened 15 sessions, drawing the participation of 340,000 individuals. The Straits Youth Festival is highly popular among young people from both sides of the Straits, bringing people from across the Straits even closer.

Second, Fujian is becoming the warmest home for people from both sides of the Straits. Fujian introduced its first list of 225 equal treatment measures for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded companies, thereby establishing a complete policy framework that benefits Taiwan. Tens of thousands of Taiwan compatriots have built businesses, pursued education, and resided and settled down in Fujian. Furthermore, the province has been providing water to Kinmen for five years, with the total water supply amounting to approximately 30 million metric tons and the daily water supply exceeding 20,000 metric tons. The promising prospects of the integrated development between Xiamen and Kinmen have taken root in the minds of Kinmen's residents. Pingtan has implemented a strategy to transform itself into an international tourism island, featuring two gateways for Fujian and Taiwan cooperation and national opening up, as well as three industrial sectors focusing on emerging industries, high-end services, and livable communities. With the implementation of a new round of overall development plans, Pingtan aspires to create a homeland where people on both sides of the Straits can lead happy lives.

Third, Fujian has constructed the most convenient channels between two sides of the Strait. Fujian maintains direct sea routes with Taiwan's major ports and operates 17 regular air and sea routes, providing up to 430 weekly flights at peak levels. Fujian has established highly convenient and cost-effective sea and air routes, including connections between Kinmen and Matsu and coastal areas of Fujian, roll-on/roll-off passenger ship routes, and direct air routes.

Fourth, Fujian is consolidating the foundation for close economic and trade cooperation across the Strait. Fujian province hosts more than 10,000 Taiwan-funded enterprises, with an actually utilized Taiwan capital exceeding $32 billion. The accumulated trade volume between Fujian and Taiwan has surpassed 1.4 trillion yuan. Each year, Fujian ranks high among Chinese provinces in terms of the amount of actually utilized Taiwan capital and the number of newly added Taiwan-invested enterprises. A total of 18 national cross-Straits industrial cooperation parks across Fujian have promoted the integration of industrial and supply chains between Fujian and Taiwan in sectors such as electronic information, petrochemicals, and precision machinery.

For the next step, Fujian will earnestly study and implement the important guiding principles of General SecretaryXi Jinpingfor the work related to Taiwan and act on the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Treating the implementation of the guideline as a significant political task and assuming greater responsibility, we will boldly act as pioneers, advancing practical progress in the demonstration zone for integrated cross-Straits development. We will gradually turn the blueprint outlined by General SecretaryXi Jinpinginto reality. We will fully leverage Fujian's advantages, shoulder our responsibilities, and contribute to exploring new pathways for the integrated development across the Straits. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Luo. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the news outlet you represent before asking your questions.