Cities in Fujian province, which borders the Taiwan Straits, have considered detailed measures to put into practice the country's newly unveiled 31-article policy offering equal treatment to residents on both sides of the straits.The measures discussed include encouraging local institutions that offer guarantees to small and medium-sized enterprises to include Taiwan businesses in their financing services, supporting professors and teachers from Taiwan in applying for research projects and inspiring technical talent from Taiwan to join local professional associations, city officials said during the recent national legislative session.Altogether, 22 of 31 measures have already been implemented in Fujian, which has long been a window of exchange and cooperation between people on the two sides of the straits, according to Zhong Zhigang, deputy director of the Fujian Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office.Other measures will be taken soon as part of a maximum effort to include Taiwan residents in the local public services system, including education, employment and residency, and generally in the tide of economic and social development sweeping the Chinese mainland, he said.Lin Wenyao, a deputy to the National People's Congress and director of the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area in Fujian, said the area-the closest to Taiwan geographically-aims to become a demonstration zone in this respect."We're mulling plans to build the area into a second living space for Taiwan residents by introducing high-end services" Lin said.Lin said some measures in the 31-article policy, which took effect at the end of February, were already implemented in the area, such as recognizing Taiwan residents' professional qualifications in the fields of medicine, architecture, design and education."Nearly 300 Taiwan residents have benefited from the policy," he said.Moreover, in Pingtan, Taiwan residents have been able to qualify for five-year visas since September 2015.Chen Zixuan, an NPC deputy from Xiamen, the city that first introduced regulations embracing Taiwan residents for employment and investment in 1994, suggested further detailed measures to eliminate inconvenience for Taiwan residents.One of her suggestions is to unify the eight-digit mainland travel permit for Taiwan residents with an 18-digit mainland resident-style ID so that those coming from Taiwan can simply swipe their permits when checking in for flights or when taking trains. They could also more easily register for shared bikes and other services. vinyl wristbandsmotivational wristbands for athletespersonalized silicone braceletsbatman wristbandsilicone fidget spinnercustom fidget spinners202mm to inches
SEOUL - The Republic of Korea on Friday approved the first civilian contact with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea under the new government of President Moon Jae-in, indicating a gradual resumption of inter-Korean exchanges. Seoul's Unification Ministry spokesman Lee Yoo-jin said the government gave a green light to the request by civic group Korean Sharing Movement for contact with the DPRK to tackle malaria in border areas. It was the first such approval by the ROK government since the DPRK conducted its fourth nuclear test last year. Lee reiterated the new government's position that Seoul will flexibly review civilian exchanges such as a humanitarian aid within the limits of undamaging the international sanctions on the DPRK while sternly dealing with any DPRK provocations. Earlier this month, the Korean Sharing Movement requested a contact with Pyongyang to discuss the humanitarian assistance to the DPRK people. If discussions go smoothly, the civic group's visit to Pyongyang could be pushed in early June. Lee said that if any request for its visit to the DPRK and the supply of relief goods is made, the ministry would decide on it due to the inter-Korean relations and the security of the visitors. About 20 requests for contact with or visit to the DPRK have been made by ROK civic groups, media said. Xinhua
