Chinese top political advisor Wang Huning has called for accelerating the construction of a demonstration zone for cross-Strait integrated development in Fujian Province, state media reported on Saturday.
Wang, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, spoke during a meeting in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeastern Fujian that has been designated as a focal point for closer economic and social ties between mainland China and Taiwan. He said the 2026-2030 period would present broad opportunities for deepening integration across the Strait, according to Xinhua News Agency.
The demonstration zone, established under a central government directive, is intended to serve as a testing ground for new policies aimed at easing cross-Strait exchanges in business, education, and daily life. Wang urged authorities in Fujian to explore new institutional mechanisms and development models that could later be replicated in other parts of the country, the report said.
Specific areas of focus outlined in Wang's remarks included enhancing the business environment for Taiwan-funded enterprises, strengthening industrial cooperation, and expanding the benefits of integration for Taiwanese individuals and companies operating on the mainland. He also called for expanding channels for Taiwanese youth to pursue education and career opportunities across the Strait.
"We should improve policies and measures to facilitate cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation," Wang was quoted as saying. "More efforts should be made to strengthen Taiwan compatriots' sense of identification with the Chinese nation."
The push comes as the 18th Straits Forum, an annual platform for cross-Strait dialogue, is being held in Xiamen this week. Chinese officials have consistently framed cross-Strait integration as a priority under the country's 15th Five-Year Plan, which runs from 2026 to 2030.
Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has previously cautioned against what it describes as Beijing's efforts to erode the island's institutional autonomy through such integration initiatives. The council has urged Taiwanese businesses and citizens to remain aware of the legal and political implications of engaging with mainland-led development programs. Taipei has not issued a direct response to Wang's latest remarks.
The United States, which maintains unofficial relations with Taiwan under its own interpretation of the One-China policy, has also voiced concern over Beijing's cross-Strait policies. Washington has reiterated its support for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and has called for the resolution of differences through peaceful dialogue without preconditions.
Wang did not reference specific timelines or formal unification in his remarks, according to the state media account. The demonstration zone in Fujian is part of a longer-term strategy to deepen economic and social linkages across the Strait, building on existing trade and investment ties between the two sides.
