Taiwan compatriots display pride, confidence at exhibition

Taiwan compatriots in Beijing expressed confidence in the development of the Chinese mainland and expectations for the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Straits after a visit to an exhibition showcasing achievements over the past 10 years.

The exhibition, Forging Ahead in the New Era, at the Beijing Exhibition Hall, includes demonstration of achievements in deepening cross-Straits integration, curbing the separatists' "Taiwan independence" attempt, and safeguarding the prospects for peaceful reunification.

At the area demonstrating cross-Straits exchanges, a picture showing several young volunteers from Taiwan providing services for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics during this year's Spring Festival holiday hangs on the wall.

One of them is Chen Wen-cheng from Changhua in Taiwan, a teacher at the department of physical education at Peking University. Chen, who visited the exhibition on Saturday, used to be the leader of the volunteers team for the Winter Games — seven students studying at universities in Beijing and three young people working in the city.

"I feel excited, but more moved. It's a great memory," the 32-year-old said after seeing his picture on the exhibition. "I will contribute more efforts to cross-Straits exchanges and help more Taiwan young people see the development on mainland."

Taiwan New Party's Chen Szu-chun, who currently works in Beijing, said at the exhibition he saw that the mainland has achieved its first centenary goal, winning the battle against poverty, and made great strides in all aspects in the past decade.

However, Chen said he felt said that there is no Taiwan region in the display area focusing on development of the provincial regions, even though the outcome of cross-Straits exchanges and efforts to achieve reunification of the two sides are demonstrated.

"On the way to the second centenary goal, Taiwan will not and cannot be absent," he said. "I hope in the future I can see Taiwan region in the exhibition and people in Taiwan can live better lives after the reunification."

Shen Hung-jui, from New Taipei City of Taiwan and now a graduate student of world economy at the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said: "My deepest feeling is that the motherland really cares about and supports us from Taiwan. I hope the two sides can achieve reunification as soon as possible as it's beneficial to people in Taiwan."

Shen said he often encourages his friends in Taiwan to pay visits to the mainland and see the place by themselves so that they can understand the mainland is completely different from what they see in some Taiwan media.

I have visited some once impoverished counties in Sichuan province, and saw their development, he said, adding that "Taiwan people should take an objective view of the mainland's system and they will find the system really brings the country better development."

Chou Yu-chieh, a senior student from the National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, visited the exhibition with other students from Taiwan and said she was impressed by the high-tech achievements displayed in the exhibition.

"I will consider pursuing graduate studies at a university in Beijing," said the 21-year-old who is now on a half-year exchange program at the Renmin University of China in Beijing as she wants to experience the culture on mainland.