Hangzhou issues preferential policies for Taiwan people

Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, recently released 60 preferential policies to support and attract people from Taiwan to work and live in the city, providing them with equal treatment to local people in the fields of investment, study, entrepreneurship, employment, social insurance and other living needs.

According to the new policies, Taiwan-funded companies are encouraged to support Hangzhou's development in the economy, trade, culture and scientific and technological innovation, and will be able to enjoy the same treatment as local companies in investment and tax policies.

Taiwan people who have studied, worked or lived in Hangzhou for more than 3 months will be entitled to get a Hangzhou citizen card with mainland travel permits, and enjoy the same convenient services and medical care as Hangzhou citizens do.

"These policies are tailored for Taiwan-funded companies and Taiwan residents, especially in the Hangzhou citizen card application, and areas of personal finance and medical treatment, which most concern them," said Lyv Jinsong from the Taiwan Affairs Office of the Hangzhou Municipal Government.

Liu Guangrong, president of the Hangzhou Association of Taiwan Compatriots Investment Enterprises, hailed the policies, saying they reflected "equal treatment and fine services," and that they bring great opportunities and facilitate Taiwan people to live and work on the mainland.

In addition, the measures also encourage exchanges between students on both sides of the Straits, such as launching summer camps, mutual visits, offering internships to Taiwan college students, who will be provided up to 200,000 yuan ($29,000) in grants and 300,000 small granted loans if they start a business in Hangzhou.

"This is a good opportunity for students from Taiwan and there will be more of them coming to Hangzhou in the future," said Lin Jiayan, vice-president of the Hangzhou Association of Taiwan Compatriots Investment Enterprises.

In recent years, the number of Taiwan people who have come to Hangzhou for investment, study, employment and tourism has witnessed a substantial growth. From January to June, the total investment of Taiwan-funded companies in the city reached $305 million, a whopping year-on-year increase of 900 percent.