Inspiring Taiwanese youth to pursue their dreams in the hot land of mainland China, special article: This reply letter to the Taiwan Strait Youth Forum
Xiamen, June 15th, Xinhua News Agency (Xinhua) - This reply inspires Taiwanese youth to pursue their dreams in the hot land of mainland China
Xinhua News Agency reporters Zhao Bo, Shi Longhong, and Fu Min
In the hot summer season of Xiamen, with lush vegetation, vast sea and sky, the 21st Cross Strait Youth Forum arrived as scheduled.Deeply caring and eagerly anticipating, inspiring many Taiwanese youths on the mainland to pursue their dreams.
Recently, three representatives of Taiwan youth gave an exclusive interview to Xinhua News Agency reporters, sharing their experiences and insights in learning, work, and life, conveying the vibrant spirit of working together and the spirit of hard work and hard work.
"To achieve greater development on a better platform"
"My hometown, where is it? It's not just economy class that connects the strait; the quiet slopes, with motorcycles shuttling through, and the dreamy mountains and forests have broadened my horizons..." At the "Cross Strait Campus Network Singer Competition" held last year, "That Night's Stars" won the Best Original Song Award in the university group.
The song creator is Mao Zhiyuan, a master's student from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in Taitung.
In 2015, Mao Zhiyuan was admitted to Shanghai Jiao Tong University, marking his first visit to mainland China. "Previously, my impression of the mainland came from news reports and word of mouth among family and friends. After arriving, I found that the mainland is full of opportunities and challenges," said Mao Zhiyuan.
After graduating from undergraduate studies, Mao Zhiyuan successfully obtained his first choice and continued to pursue a master's degree at the School of Medicine of Jiaotong University.
Last summer, Mao Zhiyuan and dozens of young people from Taiwan wrote to General Secretary Xi Jinping about their experiences and feelings of studying, working, and living in the mainland of the motherland.
"I didn't expect the General Secretary to reply to us. The paper is short and the feelings are long, and the feelings are deep and profound. There is not only warmth and love between the lines, but also encouragement and expectation!" He said that the reply in the letter that "I have become attached to the mainland and found a stage to realize my dream in the mainland" is a true portrayal of my study and life.
"The abundant faculty and learning resources of Shanghai Jiao Tong University have greatly benefited me," Mao Zhiyuan said. Here, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering, Changjiang Scholars, and recipients of the Outstanding Youth Science Fund... The "brilliant resume" of our predecessors inspires us to strive to become a good doctor with both clinical and scientific research skills.
Over the past year, he has actively participated in experimental work, published papers, and assisted in writing popular science articles. Although Taiwan has not yet recognized medical education related to mainland China, Mao Zhiyuan has "considered the future very clearly from the beginning of his studies.". In his view, the medical level in many parts of the mainland, especially the tertiary hospitals in developed cities, is sufficient to keep up with the world. "While embracing professional aspirations, we must strive for excellence and achieve greater development on better platforms."
This "slash young man" who can write songs uses music to record his experiences of studying and working hard, and also sings about his growing affection for Shanghai.
During the epidemic, Mao Zhiyuan joined the community volunteer team. "The neighborhood committee knows that I am a graduate student at Jiaotong University and respects my opinion. They have asked me to assist in planning the process and action route, as well as group buying arrangements. If a resident suddenly experiences a physical condition, they have also arranged for me to conduct the first step of investigation," he said.
After finishing work, I returned to my room and saw the hot fried buns. I heard that they were specially ordered by residents of the community for volunteers. "I feel very warm in my heart," Mao Zhiyuan said. The laundry detergent that my neighbor's aunt "gave charcoal in the snow" and the snacks I received... each gift is full of the kindness of this city. "After graduating with a master's degree, I plan to stay in Shanghai for further studies and strive to become an excellent practicing physician in the future."
"Spread love and support more Taiwanese youth pursuing their dreams"
Over the past year, as a university teacher, lawyer, mediator, and volunteer for public welfare legal education, Lai Yanjun, a Taiwanese youth teacher at Central South University of Economics and Law, has been very busy.
"General Secretary Xi said in his reply that the future of the motherland and the nation rests on young people." Lai Yanjun said, "in the vibrant land of the mainland, I am trying to run the best results on the track of youth."
From studying at Wuhan University and obtaining a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degree in Law, to joining Central South University of Economics and Law through the Hubei "Thousand Positions Welcoming Taiwan Youth" special recruitment fair, this Taipei girl who has been living in Wuhan for 14 years is becoming increasingly clear about her responsibilities.
During his student years, Lai Yanjun received scholarships multiple times. Encouraged by her friends, she bravely applied for the presidential election of the Student Union and was elected with a high number of votes, becoming the first vice president of the Student Union from Taiwan at Wuhan University Law School.
Stepping onto the podium, Lai Yanjun took on the responsibility of leading by example as a young legal scholar and took every lecture seriously. "Gentleness, warmth, professionalism, and dedication" is the evaluation of her by students.
Having been in mainland China for many years, Lai Yanjun noticed that many Taiwanese compatriots who work, start businesses, and study in mainland China are not familiar with mainland laws, regulations, and policies. During her master's degree, she passed the judicial examination and became the first Taiwanese practicing lawyer in Hubei. Afterwards, she devoted herself to public welfare and provided legal advice, public welfare legal education, and other services to Taiwanese compatriots in mainland China, assisting them in handling disputes related to marriage, labor, and contracts.
The youth of struggle shines brightly. Due to outstanding performance, Lai Yanjun was awarded the "Hubei Youth May Fourth Medal" in 2022.
"At first, I went to Wuhan to study alone, but I experienced confusion and setbacks due to not being familiar with my hometown. Fortunately, my teachers, classmates, friends, and the local Taiwan Affairs Office provided me with care and encouragement, which helped me successfully get to where I am today. Because of this friendship, I chose to stay and gained more rich experiences." Lai Yanjun said.
Now, she wants to pass on her love and become a force to support every Taiwanese youth who pursue their dreams.
Lai Yanjun often acts as a "newcomer" to exchange experiences in postgraduate entrance exams and job seeking with Taiwanese youth around him. She often accepts media interviews to show more Taiwanese youth the real picture of studying and finding employment in mainland China.
"In his reply, General Secretary hopes that we can share our experiences and insights on the mainland with more Taiwanese youth, so that more Taiwanese youth can understand the mainland. This is exactly what I am asking myself to do," said Lai Yanjun.
"Join hands and become a 'dream partner' for both sides of the Taiwan Strait."
There is a stadium and gymnasium nicknamed "White Mantou" - Xiamen Sports Center Ice Space by the beautiful Tangdang Lake, which is the first movable air film ice rink in Fujian Province. Since its opening last summer, ice space has been highly sought after and has become a popular "check-in spot".
The outdoor space outside the venue is filled with a variety of "desktop premium services" provided by cross-strait youth cooperation. Taiwanese drinks, healthy snacks, craft beer... paired with street fitness and martial arts, create a great place to experience the fun of sports. On holidays, this place is crowded with people and full of excitement.
"The greatest significance of ice space to me is the success of the 'cross-strait partnership' system," said Fan Jiangfeng, General Manager of Xiamen Qida Taixiang Entrepreneurship Service Co., Ltd. The youth on both sides of the strait operate the same project, each with their own strengths and abilities, helping to promote the construction of Xiamen's sports consumption pilot city while also successfully finding their career direction.
Fan Jiangfeng from Taoyuan landed and developed in 2009. In 2016, he and his colleagues founded the Xiamen Qida Strait Innovation and Entrepreneurship Base. From a dream chaser for Taiwanese youth to a ferry ferryman for the Taiwan Strait, he and his team have assisted over 40000 Taiwanese youth in mainland China exchanges and helped hundreds of Taiwanese youth entrepreneurship projects land.
In the process of integrating into the economic and social development of the mainland, Fan Jiangfeng has increasingly realized that for young entrepreneurs, "the integration and development of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is mutual learning and cooperation.".
In 2015, he met Lei Xiying, a young man from northern Fujian. This pair of "strait combinations" inspire each other and find "new tracks" in traditional culture. They came to Mount Wuyi, the birthplace of Zhu culture, to jointly develop the cultural IP of "Da Hua Xi You" - cartoon Zhu, build a cultural town and help the rural revitalization.
Years later, the Zhu Zi mascot wearing a hat and a smiling face appeared at the Taiwan Strait Youth Forum, vividly interpreting the wonderful story of young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait meeting friends and creating together through culture.
The success of cartoon Zhu Zi and other "Da Hua Xi You" series city IPs made Fan Jiangfeng realize that working together with youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait can achieve a "1+1 greater than 2" effect. As an entrepreneurial agent, he began to promote this approach.
At Qida, each department is equipped with a "dual supervisor". The Taiwan supervisor is responsible for coordinating with the island and conducting promotion and communication with Taiwanese youth; Mainland supervisors coordinate with local authorities to assist Taiwan youth in finding market resources. The subsidiaries of Qida Incubation also encourage the implementation of the "cross-strait partnership" system.
"They are each other's' translators', and when combined, they can minimize unnecessary information gaps and improve efficiency." Fan Jiangfeng said, "Over the years, in many parts of mainland China, I have seen successful cases of youth cooperation and entrepreneurship across the Taiwan Strait."
In last year's reply, General Secretary instructed Taiwanese youth to work together with mainland youth to work together and work together. Fan Jiangfeng said that this reply gave him great encouragement, "like a bright light illuminating the way forward, making me more confident that my ideas and actions are correct.".
He firmly believes that with the continuous deepening of cross-strait integration, more Taiwanese youth will step onto the hot land of the mainland, learn and work together with mainland youth, and become each other's "dream partners". "We, the youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, should stand at the forefront of the times and shoulder our historical mission together, so that our youth can shine in the great process of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the Chinese Dream!" said Fan Jiangfeng.
