Rugby coach's homeward try links past, future

Blueprint for a shared home

These individual dreams are woven into a larger institutional tapestry. According to the proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan, the mainland will prioritize the high-quality construction of a demonstration zone for integrated development in Fujian, ensuring that Taiwan compatriots enjoy equal treatment in their studies, work and lives.

To implement these national directives, Fujian's provincial 15th Five-Year Plan outlines a comprehensive roadmap. The province will expand the recognition of Taiwan's vocational qualifications and launch more rural vitalization projects specifically for cross-Strait cooperation.

In the economic realm, Fujian aims to build a common market pilot zone, deepening synergy in key industries such as electronic information, machinery equipment, petrochemistry, and marine fisheries. The plan also advocates sharing industrial standards and further easing market access for Taiwan-funded enterprises.

To foster emotional resonance, the blueprint prioritizes cultural hubs centered on Southern Fujian culture — the ancestral customs that form the foundation of most of Taiwan's population — and Mazu, the revered sea goddess that serves as a spiritual bond across the Strait.

By strengthening the collection and preservation of kinship archives and exploring legislation for cross-Strait genealogical mapping, the province seeks to forge a stronger sense of community and fortify the shared historical memory for the Chinese nation.

During recent Spring Festival celebrations in Fuzhou, Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, reaffirmed the success of the central directive supporting Fujian's demonstration zone over the past two years.

Song said that refined supporting policies and substantive cooperation are steadily translating the "one family" concept into "tangible livelihood dividends".

"Affairs between the two sides are family matters and should be settled through consultation by family members," he emphasized.

"We will never allow external interference," Song said. "The tranquility of our home must not be disrupted, and our family estate must not be betrayed."

This vision of a "shared home" is increasingly tangible through physical connectivity. Under Fujian's latest proposals, the development of integrated living circles between Fujian's Xiamen and Taiwan-administered Jinmen, as well as Fuzhou on the mainland and Taiwan-administered Matsu, will be accelerated through projects linking water, electricity, gas and bridges.

The physical manifestation of this link is the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge. Construction of the Xiamen side section will be completed within the following five years, marking a historic step toward a direct land link.

Combined with the water supply project, which has delivered over 46 million metric tons of fresh water from Fujian's Quanzhou to Jinmen, the flow of life and innovation is becoming a reality.

For students like Lai, this connectivity is also spiritual. Spending this Spring Festival in Fuzhou, Lai visited local temples and found them comfortably familiar. "Eight out of ten people in Taiwan are descendants of Fujian immigrants," Lai said."When I walk through the streets of Fuzhou, the food and the customs make me feel at home."

Contact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn