Fujian reaches out to Taiwan business

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 ◆ Fujian reaches out to Taiwan business

Xi Jinping, governor of East China's Fujian Province, has vowed to enhance co-operation between Fujian and cross-Straits neighbour Taiwan Province to make his province a major hub for Taiwan investment and businesses.

Nearly four-fifths of Taiwan's population is of Fujian origin.

For these geographical and cultural reasons, Fujian is one of the most favoured mainland provinces for Taiwan investors.

Xi said that Fujian ranks third in introducing Taiwan investment, after East China's Jiangsu Province and South China's Guangdong Province.

"Fujian now aims to be the centre for business exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan and a base for Taiwan businesses on the mainland," Xi said.

The province, which enjoys the country's fourth largest tourism income, is committed to becoming a base for cross-Straits tourism.

"We hope more Taiwanese will come to Fujian as tourists," Xi said. The governor also said Fujian will try to learn advanced techniques from Taiwan in developing agriculture including methods of farming, technological renovations and agriculture management and marketing strategies.

"Fujian's climate is similar to that of Taiwan, making it possible for Fujian to use Taiwan's techniques," Xi said. He said Fujian could even become a food processing base for Taiwan.

Although Jiangsu and Guangdong provinces have attracted more Taiwan investment, Xi said, Fujian still has its advantages.

"Fujian has the upper hand in the labor-extensive and capital-extensive industries, that is partly why many Taiwan investors are choosing the province," he said.

The textile industry in Taiwan is thinking of investing in Fujian, he said.

In recent years, more and more people from Taiwan have come to Fujian for business and travel. Recently, senior officials from Taiwan's Penghu County embarked on a seven-day visit to Fujian.