China News Service, Fuzhou, February 9th: Taiwanese compatriots talk about the New Year around the fire in an apartment
China News Service reporter Yan Xu
"When we celebrate the New Year by the fire, we must have a fire! My mother will prepare a hot pot at home, and I was very touched to see them preparing it here." It is the third time to celebrate the Spring Festival in Fujian. Taiwanese youth Xu Zhenzhen has this year. " It feels like I’m at home.”
On the evening of the 8th, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, a cross-strait family integration event was held in Guixi Community, Yuefeng Town, Jin'an District, Fuzhou City. The community posted the characters "Fu" and hung up New Year pictures, and representatives of families from both sides of the Taiwan Strait who were celebrating the Spring Festival in Fuzhou gathered together.
On the evening of February 8, the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, representatives of families from both sides of the Taiwan Strait celebrating the Spring Festival in Fuzhou gathered around the fire in Guixi Community, Yuefeng Town, Jin'an District, Fuzhou City to talk about the New Year. Photo by China News Service reporter Yan Xu
Guixi Community is the location of the Taiwan Compatriot Apartment in Fuzhou City. Since January 2022, the Taiwan Compatriot Apartment has welcomed five batches and 257 households, and 422 Taiwan compatriots have "settled" here. The "Taiwanese, homely, and humane touch" of Taiwan compatriots' apartments was also displayed in this fire-circling activity.
Xu Zhenzhen felt that this event was lively and festive. Usually, he rarely gets together with other Taiwanese compatriots like this, and they "have endless things to say" to each other.
Three years ago, Xu Zhenzhen, who was engaged in operating a mainland online shopping platform in Taiwan, decided to take advantage of the rapid development of the Internet in mainland China to develop. Fujian, the province closest to Taiwan, became her chosen destination.
"You can learn the most cutting-edge knowledge here, and there is also a lot of policy support, as well as like-minded partners." Xu Zhenzhen said that the Cross-Strait Community Exchange Center provided her with free office space, and she received a lot of support on her entrepreneurial journey, which made her more determined The idea of staying here.
Talking about the New Year around the fire, Xu Zhenzhen made a wish: "I hope to participate more in cross-strait exchanges and let young people in Taiwan know more about the mainland through the Internet."
He Guoren, a young Taiwanese man engaged in car repair and modification, settled in Fuzhou for love. In 2008, he was invited by a Taiwan-funded company to Xiamen to test a car project, and since then he has frequently traveled between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Two years later, He Guoren accidentally met Zhao Fei, a Chongqing girl who was working in Fuzhou and traveling to Xiamen. They fell in love with each other and began a long-distance relationship that lasted for three years.
In 2013, He Guoren and Zhao Fei got married. In order for his wife to have a stable and familiar life, he settled in Fuzhou with his wife, who also encouraged him to start a business in Fuzhou. In 2021, a family was the first to move into a Taiwanese apartment.
"The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu. On the twelfth day of the lunar month, thousands of households always exchange new peaches for old talismans." During the fireside activity, a pair of children of He Guoren recited Wang Anshi's poem "Yuan Ri" together. , drawing bursts of applause and cheers.
"I hope both children will be safe and healthy, I hope the mainland economy will be better in the future, and I hope more Taiwanese young people will come here to work hard." He Guoren said enthused.
On the evening of February 8, during a fireside event in Guixi Community, Yuefeng Town, Jin'an District, Fuzhou City, He Guoren's two children recited Wang Anshi's "Yuan Ri". Photo by China News Service reporter Yan Xu
Kang Yongming is a young Taiwanese who just came to Fuzhou not long ago. "I just came here three weeks ago, and I just got my Taiwan resident permit a week ago!" He excitedly shared with reporters, "This time the community specially invited me to celebrate the New Year. It was very welcoming, the dishes were rich, and I felt taken care of."
Fujian is accelerating the construction of a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone and has issued a series of policies and measures to facilitate Taiwan compatriots' exchanges and lives, and encourage Taiwan compatriots to find employment and start businesses. Kang Yongming resolutely quit his stable job as a physical education teacher in a school in Hsinchu and first went to Fuzhou to test the waters. Also benefiting from relevant policies and measures in Fujian to build a cross-strait integrated development demonstration zone, he can enjoy free transitional housing in a Taiwanese apartment for three months.
In the past few days, Kang Yongming has been busy visiting Fuzhou to learn about the culture, history, and geography. After settling in, he will bring his family from Taiwan over.
Kang Yongming plans to engage in education and self-media to share mainland life with students, family, and friends in Taiwan. "When the opportunity comes, take this step bravely. After all, the mainland market has greater room for development and more opportunities." He believes that the future will get better and better.
The fireside gathering lasted until late at night. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait showed off their talents and celebrated the New Year together. They also picked up their mobile phones to make video calls with relatives and friends far away to share the joy. (over)