Fujian boosts services for Taiwan residents

East China province aims to be the go-to mainland destination for locals of the island

East China's Fujian province has vowed to develop the region into a preferred destination for Taiwan residents and businesses on the Chinese mainland.

In 2018, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council launched 31 preferential policies to make studying, working, doing business and living on the mainland easier for Taiwan residents.

Yu Weiguo, Fujian's Party secretary, unveiled 66 measures in response to the 31 new policies during the 10th Straits Forum in June last year, which aimed to expand economic and trade cooperation between Fujian and Taiwan.

According to Fujian officials, each of the 31 preferential policies has been implemented. Most of the 66 new measures of Fujian have also been carried out by relevant parties.

Starting from Sept 1 last year, residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived on the Chinese mainland for longer than six months are allowed to apply for a mainland residence card. Holders of the card will receive almost the same treatment as mainland residents in multiple fields, including employment, medical care, vehicle license applications, travel bookings and hotel accommodation.

Taiwan resident Chen Yi-ting was the first recipient of the card in the province.

"With this card, we can enjoy benefits such as housing and social insurance," he said. "It provides Taiwan residents with more conveniences."

By the end of 2018, a total of 183 Taiwan-funded agricultural companies in six startup parks for Taiwan farmers around Fujian enjoyed electricity charge discounts, which helped save an estimated 14.2 million yuan ($2.05 million), according to local officials.

Fujian had one Taiwan-funded hospital, one joint-venture hospital, two joint-venture clinics and had approved the establishment of another six medical service institutes with capital from Taiwan by the end of 2018.

Young people in Taiwan are also encouraged to start up businesses in Fujian. There are 73 startup support facilities in Fujian to serve youth from Taiwan. Among which, 12 are national-level facilities.

Taiwan residents who are certified experts in their fields are welcome to work in the China (Fujian) Pilot Free Trade Zone. The Pingtan area of the free trade zone has 170 certified architects and planners, 139 certified tour guides and many certified teachers and doctors.

A total of 374 doctors from Taiwan were certified by Fujian authorities to provide medical services on the Chinese mainland by October of last year. Another 210 Taiwan doctors were granted permission to provide medical services on the Chinese mainland for a short period.

City governments in Fujian have introduced a series of new services and released many new policies to also help Taiwan businesses better adapt to market changes and expand their sales network.

Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, has established a legal service office to protect the rights of Taiwan residents. In 2018, the office received 94 cases and solved 86 of them, according to local officials.

Xiamen in Fujian has long been working to ensure Taiwan residents enjoy the same treatment as local residents. Some 67.1 million yuan of subsidies have been provided to support technological upgrading of Taiwan companies in the city over the past few years.

Currently, Xiamen is home to more than 120,000 Taiwan residents. More than 2,000 of those residents are high-caliber professionals.

The city, which welcomed the first Taiwan company in 1983, has become a hub for investors from Taiwan. The city's industrial structure, which includes software information, integrated circuits, and cultural and creative industries, is similar to that in Taiwan.

Apart from investing in urban areas, Taiwan businesses also invest in Fujian's rural areas. Many Taiwan agricultural companies have brought Taiwan-styled farm management and operation ideas to Fujian.