Strategic blueprint

The foundations for these policies were laid decades ago, according to Su Meixiang, a research fellow at the Fujian Academy of Social Sciences. He said that during President Xi Jinping's work as a senior official in Fujian, he pioneered the province's first reception day for Taiwan compatriots.

"He set up the province's first reception day for Taiwan business people and compatriots to understand their needs and help solve their problems," Su added.

Wu, the businessman, said that Xi would meet with Taiwan compatriots from time to time and visit their factories to see how things were going. "He has consistently paid close attention to the development of Taiwan business people on the mainland," Wu said.

Su said that since 2012, President Xi has made three inspection tours to Fujian, where he has emphasized cross-Strait integration through connectivity, mutual benefit and emotional bonds.

In March, the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan further provided top-level design for this mission.

Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a recent news conference that the document explicitly aims to build a common market across the Strait and strengthen industrial cooperation. Efforts will be made to deepen cooperation in fields such as education and healthcare, and promote the sharing of social security and public resources across the Strait.

The plan highlights the importance of supporting Taiwan enterprises to participate in major regional development strategies and encourages eligible Taiwan-funded enterprises to list on the mainland.

National rejuvenation

As Chang, the TCM doctor from Jinmen, looks out from the ferry during his frequent cross-Strait trips, he sees the future taking shape: the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge, with towers shaped like the Chinese character for "gate". The major part of the Xiamen section of the bridge is scheduled to be finished this year.

Chang noted a critical detail that addresses the challenges he saw in his youth. "The bridge will include emergency lanes for ambulances to facilitate their swift passage," he said.

"In the future, Jinmen residents could go straight to Xiamen for surgery. This would be a significant benefit," he said, emphasizing that this is perhaps the greatest benefit for the welfare of the people of Jinmen.

Su, the researcher, added that the bridge will be part of an integrated network, including shared use of Xiamen's new international airport and connected power grids to address electricity shortages on Jinmen.

"This kind of cross-regional infrastructure connects not just the land, but also the shared development destiny of both sides," Su said.

For Wu, this represents the ultimate goal: "We are one family. Cross-Strait integration is a crucial part of laying the foundation for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

Su said as Fujian accelerates the connection between the two sides, the shallow Strait described by late Taiwan poet Yu Guangzhong (1928-2017) decades ago is no longer a symbol of "inescapable nostalgia".

As President Xi once said, Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have always been one family; they should often interact with each other, which will bring them closer and promote their kinship.

Contact the writers at zhangyi1@chinadaily.com.cn