Pilot projects designed to provide a wider window with Taiwan

Leaders in Xiamen plan to widen the window for cross-Straits communication.

The city will do it by investing in pilot projects for culture, education, finance, medical care and tourism while improving the current management system, said Ren Guoyan, chief planner of the Xiamen Planning Bureau.

The cultural exchange platforms and cultural industry bases will then lead to further prosperity on both sides of the Straits, he said.

Local governments including Xiamen will also explore new ways to step up cooperation in education, establish a more convenient public transportation system and implement favorable policies for personnel exchanges across the Straits, said the planner.

At the same time, the Xiamen Cross-Straits Financial Center is expected to develop rapidly, bringing in more overseas financial institutions.

"We also encourage people-to-people communication between the two sides," said Ren.

The effort by authorities to strengthen Xiamen as a gateway city in cross-Straits relations is part of its "Beautiful Xiamen" strategic plan.

The plan echoes the concept of a "Beautiful China" proposed by former Chinese President Hu Jintao during the 18th National Party Congress.

Due to its geographical advantages, Xiamen has been important in relations across the Straits since the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644). The quickest ferry between Taiwan and Kinmen only takes half an hour.

Xiamen now has more than 50 Taiwan-related institutions.Every year the city hosts more than 30 important events including the Straits Forum.

It has also been a pilot area for more than 30 polices including the comprehensive support for reform in deepening cross-Straits relations.

Taiwan is the second largest trading partner of Xiamen. In the first half of 2013, trade between the two hit $4.26 billion, an increase of 27.6 percent over the previous year.

Taiwan is also the second-largest source of foreign investment in Xiamen, which hit $220 million during the period.

But Xiamen's strategic role has now been challenged by Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Dongguan in Guangdong province and Pingtan in Fujian province.

With the new blueprint, Xiamen and Taiwan hope to embrace new opportunities.

The plan focuses on implementing the so-called "Great bay urban strategy" that will integrate and consolidate resources in the cities of Xiamen, Zhangzhou and Quanzhou and incorporate Taiwan in the planning framework.

"After so many years of development, cross-Straits relations are becoming more stable and mature," said Peng Li, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University.

"I recommend making full use of legislation to encourage cross-Straits cultural exchanges, social integration and trade and economic exchanges.

"We should improve service to Taiwan residents such as giving them citizen treatment, more convenience and preference regarding living, education, employment and owning property."