Mainland's first Taiwan community being built

The community for Taiwan people is under construction in Pingtan county in Fuzhou, Southeast China's Fujian province, the first of its kind in the Chinese mainland.

Starting construction in March, the first phase of the community is due for completion by the end of this year.

Covering an area of 20,000 square meters, the community will comprise four residential buildings each with 25 to 26 floors and one commercial building. Each of the 388 housing units will have a floor area of around 89 square meters to 140 sq m.

Hsueh Ching-te, who came to Pingtan to start up his business more than 20 years ago, first proposed building a Taiwan people community via the Pingtan Taiwan Merchants Association and the Pingtan County Political Consultative Conference in 2005.

Hsueh said the Chinese mainland is ready to take the lead in sharing development opportunities with Taiwan compatriots. As a result, more and more Taiwan people will come to the mainland and take opportunities here.

"The community values the quality of Taiwan architecture, and I believe many Taiwan people will choose to stay here," Hsueh added.

Taiwan-funded construction engineering consulting company Reiju, based in Xiamen, is one of the construction contractors of the community.

"This is the first project we've secured in Pingtan, and we look forward to more cross-Straits cooperation," said Chiang Sen-mien, chairman of the company.

"We plan to adopt the arcade building design that is common in Taiwan, which will help Taiwan compatriots integrate into life in Pingtan," Chiang said. "At the same time, we hope that this project will establish a standard model of cross-Straits cooperation and make the Taiwan people community in Pingtan a great example of cooperation."

Hsu Kuei-jung, a worker from Taiwan living in Pingtan, is another proponent of the community.

"I am very optimistic about the future development of Pingtan. I will consider buying a house in Pingtan when the timing is right, and then the Taiwan people community will become my primary consideration," Hsu said.