Xu Kewei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 11, 2026. Photo: Xinhua

Nearly 4.9 million visits were made by Taiwan residents to the Chinese mainland over the past year after the mainland introduced services to facilitate cross-Straits travel, with young people accounting for more than one-third of the total. Peace and development remain the shared aspiration of people on both sides of the Straits, said Xu Kewei, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Xu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, made the remarks at a group interview ahead of the closing meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Wednesday, according to CCTV News. 

Xu, a third-generation Taiwan compatriot who has settled on the mainland and works as a surgeon, said his work frequently takes him across different provinces, where he often meets young people from Taiwan pursuing studies, careers or entrepreneurial ventures. 

Some are attracted by the mainland's welcoming workplace atmosphere, internationally oriented academic exchange environment and rich cultural heritage, Xu noted, adding that the mainland's large market and vibrant industries have created fertile ground for Taiwan youth to realize their ambitions.

Peace and development remain the common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and closer exchanges between young people from Taiwan and the mainland will help build a brighter future, Xu said. He added that greater interaction and mutual engagement among the younger generation could help transform the vision of people on both sides of the Straits as one family into a shared reality, allowing both sides to work together toward an even better tomorrow.

Echoing Xu's remarks, Cai Peihui, a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy from the Taiwan delegation, told the Global Times that in recent years a growing number of young people from Taiwan have set their sights on the mainland, seeking opportunities to grow alongside its development while pursuing their own aspirations and contributing to cross-Straits integration.

In recent years, the mainland has continued to optimize entry facilitation measures for Taiwan compatriots. Cai, also a standing council member of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, whose ancestral home is in Tainan, Taiwan, but who grew up in Quanzhou, Fujian, noted that many young people from Taiwan come to him when they first arrive on the mainland. One of his tasks is helping young people from Taiwan establish themselves here. Over the years, Cai said he has become affectionately known among Taiwan youth as "Uncle Cai."

Cai shared a story of several Taiwan compatriots who came to Fujian to start a business. As a demonstration zone for cross-Straits integrated development, Fujian has taken the lead in introducing a range of policies benefiting Taiwan compatriots, providing support for Taiwan youth to start businesses, find employment and settle down. The province has gradually become a "first home" for Taiwan compatriots and Taiwan-funded enterprises arriving on the mainland.

More than a decade ago, several young entrepreneurs from Taiwan approached Cai with the idea of cultivating medicinal herbs on the mainland. Fujian's climate, similar to that of Kinmen, convinced them the project was feasible, but uncertainty initially made them cautious. They began with a small shop and at one point even struggled to pay the rent.

Cai helped them connect with planting bases, find processing factories and open up sales channels. Today, the group generates nearly one million yuan in annual income and has firmly established itself on the mainland. "At the beginning they only dared to give it a try," Cai said. "Now they are confident enough to think about the next step."

Cai acknowledged that some cross-Straits exchanges have faced obstacles due to restrictions imposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan island, but said many young people take a longer-term perspective.

The broader historical trend cannot be stopped. The willingness of Taiwan youth to come to the mainland shows they recognize that the mainland's development also creates opportunities for their own future, Cai said.