The 28th Shandong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Fair Kicks off in Weifang

On the morning of September 2, the 28th Shandong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Fair kicked off in Weifang. New and old friends from both sides of the Taiwan Straits gathered in Weifang to jointly celebrate their shared sense of national identity, collectively explore avenues of industrial innovation, and strategize collaborative approaches toward integrated development. Zhang Zhijun, President of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits; Xu Hairong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee; Song Junji, Vice Governor of Shandong Province; Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of Taiwan's New Party; Huang Chien-ting, secretary-general of the Chinese Kuomintang party; and other distinguished guests from both sides of the Taiwan Straits attended the Industrial Innovation and Shandong-Taiwan Integrated Development Conference. Zhang Liansan, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province, chaired the conference. Liu Yun, Secretary of the Weifang Municipal Party Committee; Liu Jianjun, Deputy Secretary of Weifang Municipal Party Committee and Mayor of Weifang; Li Aijie, Chairman of the Weifang Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference; Guo Fei, Deputy Secretary of the Weifang Municipal Party Committee; and Weifang's leaders Zhao Xuchun, Mao Xiufeng, and Di Bo attended the event.

During his address, Zhang Zhijun stated that the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee showcased the CPC's resolve to open up broad prospects for Chinese modernization through further deepening reform comprehensively. The economic development of the mainland is stable and positive, promising a bright future. We will continue to be at the forefront of sharing the motherland's development opportunities with our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan, facilitate economic exchanges and cooperation in all fields and advance integrated development across the Straits, aiming to create a broader space that enables our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan to establish themselves more effectively and rapidly on the mainland. Shandong Province boasts significant geographical advantages, a robust industrial foundation, and a prime business environment. The Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government have consistently prioritized exchange and cooperation between Shandong and Taiwan. The Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits will consistently provide active support for the exchanges, cooperation, and integrated development in various fields between Shandong and Taiwan. It is hoped that our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan, particularly young individuals, will focus on, invest in, and establish themselves in Shandong, collaboratively contributing to writing the Shandong chapter of the Chinese path to modernization.

Prior to the event, Xu Hairong met with some of the attending guests. He noted that Shandong thoroughly studies and implements the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress and the first and second plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, fully delivers the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during his inspection in Shandong, focuses on the goal of "taking the lead to be a mainstay", accelerates its efforts to build a green, low-carbon and high-quality development pioneer area, and offers extensive opportunities for our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan to invest and prosper in the province. We hope that our friends from Taiwan explore Shandong more frequently, witness its progress, and act as effective bridges and bonds. We expect them to actively advocate for Shandong among various circles in Taiwan, drive more Taiwa entrepreneurs and companies to venture into Shandong, integrate with the province, and partake in the rewards of Shandong's reform and opening-up policies and its high-quality development outcomes, thus fostering win-win cooperation and integrated development of Shandong and Taiwan.

In his address, Song Junji highlighted that in recent years, Shandong has thoroughly implemented the Party Central Committee's decisions and arrangements on Taiwan-related work, adhered to the approach that advances integration through better connectivity and more preferential policies, as well as based on mutual trust and understanding, and thus, established Shandong as one of the provinces with the most robust exchanges, the closest cooperation, and the most significant achievements in collaboration with Taiwan. Shandong will uphold the conviction that people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are of the same family, striving to expand deeper industrial cooperation, foster larger-scale trade collaboration, encourage broader people-to-people exchanges, and build a higher-level development environment. We anticipate our Taiwanese friends coming to Shandong to renew family ties, deepen friendships, and explore new avenues for growth. Together, we work side by side to forge a promising future for collaboration between Shandong and Taiwan.

Wu Cheng-tien and Huang Chien-ting noted that the Shandong-Taiwan Fair has successfully fostered a win-win scenario for enterprises and industries on both sides, thereby establishing a robust foundation for the enduring and stable growth of economic and trade relations between Shandong and Taiwan. Shandong and Taiwan share profound roots in culture, kinship, and economic bonds. Shandong has offered favorable conditions for businesses from Taiwan to take root and flourish within the province. We aspire for Shandong and Taiwan to continuously expand their exchanges and cooperation in all areas, creating a new historical chapter in the integration of Shandong and Taiwan.

In his promotional address, Liu Yun stated that Weifang possesses robust industrial capabilities, distinguished agricultural strengths, rich scientific and educational resources, favorable geographical positioning, and deep cultural heritage. He emphasized that the city is thoroughly studying and implementing the spirit of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech during his inspection in Shandong, and anchored by the goal of "taking the lead to be a mainstay", Weifang is committed to further deepening reform comprehensively, vigorously advancing high-quality development, and speeding up the building of the better Weifang. It is sincerely hoped that our fellow Chinese and enterprises from Taiwan will come to Weifang for collaborative development and mutual prosperity. We are committed to offering an exemplary environment, superior services, and a thriving industrial ecosystem to facilitate the smooth development and comfortable living of all in Weifang.

At the event, Xu Hairong and Song Junji presented the "Outstanding Contribution Award for Boosting Shandong High-quality Development" to 20 representatives of Taiwan-funded enterprises and Taiwanese young entrepreneurs in Shandong. The Provincial Government Service Management Office introduced pertinent initiatives for improving the business environment in Shandong Province. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the Provincial Government released information on internships and employment positions in Shandong Province for young people from Taiwan, along with supportive policies. Representatives from Taiwanese enterprises operating in Shandong and young individuals from Taiwan engaged in development initiatives in the region shared their experiences and achievements in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, the event marked the official launch of the Shandong-Taiwan Integration GPT and the Cross-Straits Integration Video Platform. Before the event, attending leaders and guests visited the "Brilliant 30 Years: Retrospective Exhibition of the Shandong-Taiwan Fair".

This year's Shandong-Taiwan Fair is themed "30 Years of Partnership: Forging a New Chapter for the Future Together". During the fair, a range of activities are planned, including the Cross-Straits Advanced Manufacturing Industry Cooperation Matchmaking Event, the 2024 Cross-Straits Modern Agriculture Cooperation Matchmaking Event, and the Cross-Straits Young Entrepreneurs Exchange and Cooperation Conference.