More favorable policies and financial support should be given to develop Fujian province, which is at the forefront of cross-Straits cultural exchange, legislators have suggested.

Fujian lies on the southeast coast of the Chinese mainland and is the closest place on the mainland to Taiwan.

"Taiwan and southern Fujian share the same dialect and cultural roots. Although they have seen increasing cultural exchanges, there is still much room in which to expand," said Lin Qiang, a deputy to the National People's Congress.

Cultural exchanges between Taiwan and southern Fujian cities, such as Zhangzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou, have never ceased over the past two decades.

Many people in those mainland cities have maintained mentoring relationships with people in Taiwan in fields such as stone and wood carving, and in traditional local dramas such as Nanyin music, Liyuan opera and puppet shows, said Zeng Jingping, another NPC deputy, who is vice-chairwoman of the Fujian Theater Association.

Every year many artists from Fujian go to teach students in Taiwan and many Taiwan students come to Fujian to learn, according to Zeng.

In addition, authorities from both organize various cultural forums, art festivals, exhibitions and performances in Fujian and Taiwan each year.

Frequent performances and exhibitions given by Fujian artists and the cultural exchange at folk level have placed Fujian at the forefront of cultural exchange with the island, said Lin Qiang.

Zeng noted that for art groups on the mainland, procedures for applying to perform in Taiwan are comparatively complicated and time-consuming. Sometimes, they get approval only a moment before they set out, she said.

"More simplified procedures should be introduced to make cross-Straits cultural exchange more convenient," she added.

Zeng also suggested setting up a government-led organization in Fujian to better promote cross-Straits cultural exchange.

The government, enterprises and the public should support the organization financially, she said.

The organization should organize and coordinate Fujian's professional and folk art groups to conduct cultural exchanges in Taiwan, subsidize outstanding groups and foster cultural industrial bases, she added.

"It should also help to set up a mechanism to make the cultural exchange more regular and provide a platform to help cultural exchange activities achieve win-win results."

Contact the writer at?chenxin1@chinadaily.com.cn.