Xi's reply letter inspires youth from Taiwan

He called on young people from both sides of Straits to help realize the Chinese dream

The recent letter that Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, sent in reply to a group of young people from Taiwan working on the Chinese mainland has increased their confidence in pursuing their dreams on the mainland.

Xi called on young people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to join hands in realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, in the letter replying to young people from Taiwan attending the 20th Straits Youth Forum held in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Monday and Tuesday.

Xi said in the letter that he was delighted to learn that the young people from Taiwan had found a stage on the mainland to realize their dreams, and that they had witnessed the rapid development and changes of the motherland, and felt the warm affection between compatriots on both sides of the Straits who are of one family.

He encouraged young people from Taiwan to share their experience and feelings with their peers on the island to help them get to know the mainland and jointly strive relentlessly for national rejuvenation.

The future of the motherland and the nation rests on its young people, Xi said, adding that, as always, favorable conditions will be created for young people across the Straits to learn from each other and provide more convenience for young people from Taiwan to study, work, start businesses and live on the mainland.

Fifty young people from Taiwan who had been invited to attend the forum wrote a letter to Xi, in which they described their experiences of studying, working and living on the mainland and expressed their determination to contribute to national rejuvenation and the reunification of the motherland.

The forum, launched in 2003, is an annual event focusing on the role of young people in cross-Straits exchanges and integration. It is a sub-activity of the Straits Forum, the biggest cross-Straits grassroots exchange event. Nearly 2,000 Taiwan compatriots from all walks of life attended the Straits Forum held in Fujian this year. The forum featured 43 exchange activities on various topics.

Addressing the main conference of the Straits Forum on Wednesday, Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said the letter reflects Xi's care for young people from Taiwan.

Stressing that people on both sides of the Straits are one family, Wang said that since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, efforts have been made to improve the systems and policies ensuring the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and that they enjoy equal treatment on the mainland.

People in Taiwan can enjoy better lives and have greater space for development since they have the support of a strong motherland to rely on, he added.

"Xi always pays attention to the development of young people from Taiwan on the mainland, and we feel his expectations for us from the reply letter, that we should better promote cross-Straits integration and achieve common prosperity," said Fan-Chiang Feng, manager of the Qida Straits Youths Entrepreneurial and Incubation Center.

"What's more important is that, as the ones that work and live on the mainland, we should share our experiences with our family back in Taiwan to let them know the real mainland."

Tseng Chih-ying, a rural designer involved in upgrading villages in Fujian, said: "The letter is the most surprising gift of the year. It's like a reply from a family member showing that we care about each other and can feel each other's warmth, just like a parent watching out for our dreams."

Tseng, who is from Taipei, came to Fujian in 2018 with her team of young designers from Taiwan after Fujian issued preferential policies for Taiwan people to undertake rural vitalization projects.

Chen Borui, who is from Taiwan and now works as a doctor at the Dermatology Hospital of Fuzhou, said that what impressed him most in the letter was that Xi encouraged young people from Taiwan to join hands with those on the mainland.

Chen said he enjoys the same treatment as local doctors on the mainland in many aspects, including payment, promotion and studying opportunities.

"I feel lucky that I am spending the most precious years of my life on the mainland," said Chen.

Contact the writers at zhangyi@chinadaily.com.cn