(Two Sessions Observation) Mainland China’s focus on Taiwan from the perspective of the National Two Sessions in 2024

　　China News Service, Beijing, March 10. Title: Looking at the focus of mainland China’s work on Taiwan from the 2024 National Two Sessions

　　Author Zhu He

　　In the 2024 National Two Sessions, from the government work report to the speeches of leaders participating in the CPPCC Joint Group Meeting and the National People’s Congress delegation’s deliberation, to the foreign minister’s press conference, “anti-independence and promotion of reunification”, “integrated development”, “exchanges and cooperation” and other related topics The frequent occurrence of statements about Taiwan has provided the outside world with an observation point for mainland China’s work on Taiwan this year.

The basic policy of peaceful reunification remains unwavering

　　Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the State, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the joint meeting of the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee on the 6th and pointed out that we should continue to strengthen the anti-independence and promote reunification forces and jointly promote the process of the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

The government work report pointed out that we will promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and unswervingly advance the great cause of the reunification of the motherland.

　　Li Yihu, deputy to the National People's Congress and dean of the Taiwan Institute at Peking University, told a reporter from China News Service that although the political situation on the island has added uncertainties to the development of cross-strait relations, the mainland side has grasped the situation under the guidance of the New Era Party's overall strategy for solving the Taiwan issue. Strategic initiative, focusing on the central goal of pursuing national reunification, grasping both ends at the implementation level, that is, resolutely opposing and countering "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and promoting integrated development for Taiwanese society and Taiwan compatriots.

　　Li Yihu pointed out that the mainland's policy towards Taiwan has stability and continuity, and the basic policy of peaceful reunification has not changed.

On March 9, the Taiwan delegation held an open group meeting at the Second Session of the 14th National People’s Congress.

Photo by China News Service reporter Jiang Qiming

Exploring new mechanisms for cross-strait integrated development

　　Since the concept of cross-Strait "integrated development" was proposed, cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation have gradually deepened from focusing on economic exchanges to social, cultural and other fields.

From the "31 Articles", "26 Articles" and "22 Articles in Agriculture and Forestry" to the central government's support for Fujian in exploring cross-Strait integrated development demonstration zones last year, the mainland's top-level institutional design for promoting cross-Strait integrated development has been relatively complete.

“The key to the next step is refinement and implementation.” Li Yihu pointed out that Fujian, as a “pioneer pilot”, can explore new mechanisms and new practices.

　　How to make cross-strait integration and development deeper and more practical has also been hotly debated by delegates.

Pingtan, Fujian, is the island with the closest straight-line distance between the mainland and Taiwan. Huang Jianbo, a representative of the National People's Congress of the Fujian delegation, said that Pingtan has taken the lead in achieving full coverage of direct passenger and freight flights with major ports in Taiwan, and is exploring the opening of cruise routes to Taiwan and yacht freedom from Fujian and Taiwan. At the same time, we will expand opening up to Taiwan’s service trade, promote common industry standards across the Taiwan Strait, and allow more Taiwanese products to enter the mainland market.

　　As a long-term hot spot for cross-strait exchanges, the Yangtze River Delta region is also taking active actions.

Zhuang Zhenwen, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice president of the Shanghai Taiwan Federation, said that last year, many exchange activities for primary and secondary school students in Shanghai and Taiwan were resumed offline, and many "first-timers" came across the sea; Taiwan compatriots in Shanghai were invited to participate in local CPPCC meetings and Public welfare activities, etc., to experience and participate in mainland political and economic life.

This year, we will continue to focus on “bringing in” and “retaining” young people from Taiwan to improve the effectiveness of exchanges.

New productive forces contain opportunities for cooperation

　　Cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation has always been an important issue for integrated development.

Data show that in January this year, Taiwan's orders to the mainland (including Hong Kong) increased by 28% year-on-year, becoming the main source of growth momentum for Taiwan's export orders that month; Taiwan's industrial and commercial groups have also publicly expressed their calls for resuming pragmatic exchanges and dialogue across the Taiwan Strait on many occasions.

　　Cao Xiaoheng, director of the Taiwan Economic Research Institute at Nankai University, said in an interview that cross-strait economic and trade cooperation has gone through decades, and various industries have established certain connections, and some of Taiwan's advantageous industries have deep connections with the mainland, such as electronic information, food industry, etc.; some Enterprises were in decline on the island, but they found a "second spring" on the mainland and successfully realized transformation.

　　How to deepen cross-strait cooperation and achieve development under the current situation?

The hot topic of the Two Sessions that has attracted much attention from Taiwanese media this year - "new productivity" may provide an answer.

Cao Xiaoheng believes that high-tech and big data are the future development priorities of the mainland, and they are also Taiwan's advantageous industries. There is huge room for cross-strait cooperation in this regard.

The mainland's economic growth momentum continues unabated, and various industries on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have a profound foundation of cooperation and trust. The prospects for continued deepening and upgrading of economic and trade cooperation in the future are promising.

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