During a press conference on October 24, the Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhong Zhigang, shared the impressive developments in agricultural projects in Sanming City over the past two years. He noted that the city has successfully introduced 18 new agricultural projects funded by Taiwan, along with 33 new agricultural varieties and 12 innovative technologies.
Since the establishment of the Cross-Strait Rural Integration Development Experimental Zone, Sanming has strategically aligned rural revitalization with cross-strait integration. This initiative has been propelled by four key actions: modern agriculture, rural construction and innovation, grassroots co-governance, and enhanced exchanges and interactions.
In November 2022, Sanming received approval to set up the Cross-Strait Rural Integration Development Experimental Zone. This initiative was further supported by a directive issued in September of that year from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council, which encouraged Fujian to explore new pathways for integrating cross-strait development and establishing demonstration zones.
Zhong highlighted the similarities between Fujian and Taiwan in terms of geography, climate, ecology, and rural environments, emphasizing the significant potential for rural integration and development.
Regarding modern agriculture, he pointed out that Sanming has leveraged platforms like the Qingshui Taiwan Farmers’ Entrepreneurship Park to cultivate nine agricultural integration development promotion bases. These bases have successfully demonstrated Taiwan’s “five innovations” across an area of 60,000 acres.
In terms of rural construction and innovation, Zhong elaborated on Sanming’s proactive approach to invite Taiwanese teams to participate in rural revitalization efforts. A total of 26 Taiwanese teams, including firms like Shang Qu Zhi Ye and Kuaijie Zi Zao, have provided “companionship” services to over 90 villages across all counties and districts. The city established the Sanming Fujian-Taiwan Rural Construction and Innovation Cooperation and Exchange Center to merge Taiwanese concepts of community building and rural planning with local practices aimed at creating beautiful villages. This effort has already produced five exemplary models of Fujian-Taiwan cooperation in rural construction.
As for grassroots governance, Sanming has actively sought innovative ways for Taiwanese residents to engage in local governance. Zhong mentioned that the city is drawing inspiration from Taiwan’s “Lifelong Learning Centers,” which advocate for lifelong education and elder care. Sanming is promoting a “learning and care integrated” model through its elder care classrooms. Presently, the city has established 153 such classrooms, with an ambitious plan to achieve full coverage in eligible villages and communities by the end of 2026.
Additionally, Sanming has been fostering exchanges to further enhance integration. With its rich cultural heritage, including Zhu Xi culture and Hakka traditions, the city has developed several platforms for interaction, such as the Qingshui Taiwan Farmers’ Entrepreneurship Park and the Ninghua Shibi Hakka ancestral homeland. Each year, Sanming hosts over 30 influential cross-strait exchange events, collectively attracting over a million visitors from Taiwan.
