Taiwanese elements made deeper roots in Pingtan, Fujian province in 2014, Pingtan Times reported on Dec 30.

The following are some of the highlights:

Chinese President Xi Jinping made an inspection of Pingtan in early November where he met with local Taiwanese entrepreneurs and urged local officials to make innovations to deepen cross-Straits economic and industrial cooperation.

A Taiwanese Night Market is opened in Pingtan in 2014. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

Aiming to become a “Common Homeland” for cross-Straits people, Pingtan launched a series of projects, including a Taiwanese business incubator, a duty-free Taiwanese commodity market, a high-tech business park, a demonstration zone for cross-Straits financial cooperation and a community for Taiwanese. It also took more measures to boost construction of the cross-Straits marine transportation as well as cultural and sports communication.

The Natchan Rera, a high-speed roll-on-roll-off ferry, starts its maiden voyage from Taipei to Pingtan on May 27, 2014. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]?

The Natchan Rera, which is a Taiwanese high-speed roll-on and roll-off ferry, made its maiden voyage from Taipei to Pingtan on May 27 and now commutes between the two places on a regular basis. But together with the Haixia, a similar ferry owned by Pingtan, they have transferred more than 300,000 passengers over the past several years.

The Pingtan-Taiwan Duty-free Taiwanese Commodity Market was inaugurated on June 16 with a wide variety of imported goods. To date, more than 170 merchants have settled into the market and reported accrued business revenues of more than 39 million yuan ($6.3 million).

The Pingtan-Taiwan Duty-free Taiwanese Commodity Market is inaugurated on June 16, 2014. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

The Taiwanese Business Incubator recently became operational with a number of preferential policies. The authorities also rolled out many incentives such as startup funds, loan subsidies and big discounts on rental fees.

A number of cross-Straits cultural and sports events was held in 2014, including the third Common Homeland Forum, the Cross-Straits Financial Cooperation Summit, the Ocean Cup International Cycling Open Race, the Cross-Straits Cycling Race, the Cross-Straits Taekwondo Competition and so on, all of which are helping to turn a new chapter in cross-Straits communications.

Pingtan and Industrial Securities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), planning to issue bonds in Taiwan. Pingtan also cooperated with another two companies to jointly set up a 3-billion-yuan fund boosting cross-Straits industrial cooperation.

The Ocean Cup International Cycling Open Race kicked off in June, 2014 in Pingtan. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]

There are more than 1,000 Taiwanese people, increasing from only a few dozen before, living or working in Pingtan. About 300 of them have purchased houses and nearly 200 are studying in schools in Pingtan.

More than 10,000 Taiwanese entrepreneurs in 700 batches have inspected Pingtan. The number of Taiwanese-funded companies has grown from only 5 to more than 280, accounting for 80 percent of the total number of overseas-funded companies in Pingtan.

Officials have set a more ambitious goal that by 2018, Pingtan will strive to attract investment of 10 billion yuan from Taiwan, land nearly 1,000 Taiwanese enterprises and attract more than 10,000 Taiwanese professionals.

Pingtan is also building 3 to 5 communities exclusively for Taiwanese people. The communities will have authentic touches of Taiwan, and will be administered by Taiwanese organs.

A Taiwanese food court is opened in Pingtan in 2014. [Photo/pingtan.gov.cn]