At 7:30 p.m. on March 13, the 157th “Cross-Strait Talk” (General 242ed), hosted by China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) and Xiamen Qidataixiang Entrepreneurship Service Co., Ltd., is held at the Tencent Conference with the theme of “How to create the ‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen”.

The Working Guidance of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council to Support Fujian in Exploring New Pathways for Promoting Integrated Development between the Two Sides of the Straits and Build a Demonstration Zone for Integrated Cross-Straits Development (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidance”) supports Xiamen and Kinmen in accelerating their integrated development. It supports Xiamen in carrying out comprehensive reform pilot projects, empowering Xiamen to have greater autonomy over reforms in key areas and key links. The Guidance will ensure Kinmen compatriots enjoy equal treatment with their Xiamen compatriots, take the lead to support equal access to inclusive and convenient basic public services, create the “pair-city living circle” between Xiamen and Kinmen, as well as deepen inter school exchanges and cooperation in universities between Xiamen University and Kinmen. Efforts will also be made to explore a model for Xiamen-Kinmen joint infrastructure development, facilitating the supplies of electricity and gas and the construction of bridges from Xiamen to Kinmen, and support Kinmen in using Xiamen’s new airport. In this “Cross-Strait Talk” forum, the China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) invites Lin Chengli, a local youth engaged in the tourism industry in Kinmen, Chen Xiaoxiao, a lecturer at the School of Marxism at Jimei University and a PhD in the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, Wang Shenhao, a social development consultant at Xiagang Street, Siming District, Xiamen City and a director of the Shapowei Living Culture Exhibition Hall in Xiagang Street, Siming District, Xiamen City, as well as Huang Baozhen, a PhD in international enterprise management at the Chinese Culture University and the vice chairman of the China Youth League Promotion Association, to exchange ideas on the topic of “how to create the ‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen”. They focused on exploring the fate of Xiamen and Kinmen, what kind of convenience does “Little Three Links” between Xiamen and Kinmen bring to compatriots in two cities, how can “‘pair -city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen”be further deepened, and what role does it play in cross-strait integration. Luo Dingjun, the Secretary General of the China Cross-Straits Research Academy (Hong Kong), served as the moderator of the meeting.

Lin Chengli said that looking back at the historical origins of Xiamen and Kinmen, the two places have experienced a long-term confrontation. However, after the opening of the “Little Three Links”, China’s mainland tourists came one after another, which brought huge positive effects on Kinmen’s tourism and economy and also played a positive role in Kinmen’s tourism industry positioning. The development of Kinmen cannot be separated from the support of Xiamen. Many local residents in Kinmen look forward to the end of the dispute between the two side early, especially if the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge can be built in the future, cross-strait exchanges will be more convenient.

Chen Xiaoxiao pointed out that the profound relationship between Xiamen and Kinmen can be traced back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Firstly, the two are adjacent and have unique geographical advantages. They are closely connected in terms of geography, ethnicity, kinship, and culture. The connection between Xiamen and Kinmen is actually an epitome of the relationship between Fujian and Taiwan. Chen Xiaoxiao hoped that in the future, Xiamen and Kinmen will become the region with the closest cross-strait economic and trade cooperation, the platform with the most active cross-strait exchanges, the channel with the most convenient cross-strait contacts and the sweetest homeland with the integration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Wang Shenhao pointed out that civil exchanges between Xiamen and Kinmen have always been very close, but there is a lack of top-level design platforms, and exchanges are only limited to the level of mutual exchanges, without truly promoting cross-strait integration. Only by building the platform through more top-level designs can it play an important role in accelerating the process of “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen”.

Huang Baozhen stated that since the opening of the “Little Three Links” in 2001, the relationship between Xiamen and Kinmen have become increasingly close, which is not only reflected in geographical distance, but also in the distance between their hearts. The “Little Three Links” have saved commute cost and timefor residents between the two places, and currently nearly 120,000 Taiwan compatriots choose to work or live in Xiamen. If the Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge project can be implemented in the future, it is believed that it will play an important role in bringing the lives and hearts closer.

In addition to the wonderful speeches delivered by the guests, the online audience also actively participate in the interactive Q&A on the topic. The problems of the audience concerned included whether the “2.14 Ship Crash” will have bad impact on the communication between Xiamen and Kinmen, and whether the “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen” will be obstructed by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, etc. All the guests at the meeting answer these questions, and the discussion is heated, highlighting the great concern of young people and scholars on Cross-Strait on the issue.

Among them, Lin Chengli stated that there has been in-depth communication and cooperation between Xiamen University and National Quemoy University for a long time. In the future, Xiamen can also increase its efforts and use more convenient and favorable policies to attract more Kinmen students to study in Xiamen. Chen Xiaoxiao pointed out that Xiamen will take the lead in the process of “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen” cooperation model, and Kinmen should be included in Fujian’s overall planning. The willingness to cooperate between Xiamen and Kinmen is strong, but it is hindered by political factors. In addition, Kinmen’s autonomy will be limited to a certain extent. Xiamen should actively play a leading role and formulate ideas from other perspectives, such as the positioning and division of labor between cities, the ways and methods of industrial cooperation, the joint protection of the ecological environment, as well as maritime rescue and energy development and utilization. Wang Shenhao proposed that Kinmen can also play a supporting role for Xiamen to some extent. In fact, the number of tourists and consumption power in Xiamen in recent years have not been as high as before. In the future, Xiamen can take the lead and introduce Xiamen’s resources to Kinmen, becoming a driving force for the common development of the two places. Huang Baozhen stated that Kinmen and Xiamen can use modern technology to introduce each other’s advantages, but maintaining the simple customs of both sides is also very important. In the future, Kinmen can serve as the backyard of China’s mainland and become a tourist destination for China’s mainland tourists.

At the end of the meeting, Lin Chengli stated that the integration of Xiamen and Kinmen is the future that Xiamen and Kinmen people jointly look forward to, and both sides have the same consensus and tacit understanding. It is believed that in the near future, with the achievement of the Xiamen-Kinmen living circle, it will also bring a brighter future for the integrated development of the two sides. Chen Xiaoxiao pointed out that the cooperation between Xiamen and Kinmen has a very solid foundation, and both sides have strong intentions. Currently, the only obstacle is the obstruction of the Democratic Progressive Party authorities. However, China’s mainland has its established policies and pace, and in order to promote deeper cooperation and integration in the future, it is necessary to work together. Wang Shenhao pointed out that currently, the biggest obstacle of “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen” still comes from the Democratic Progressive Party authorities. He hoped that in the future, the public opinion in Kinmen can be better expressed, and the people’s will is the trend and “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen” can be expected soon. Huang Baozhen stated that only with a friendly environment between the two sides can we deepen cooperation and truly achieve the “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen”.

Through a brief 2 online exchange, nearly 100 people from both sides of the strait gather to discuss the topic of “‘pair-city living circle’ between Xiamen and Kinmen” to promote cross-strait exchanges with practical actions, and make contributions to maintaining cross-strait peace and development. As the cross-strait exchange activity synchronized with “Cross-Strait Youth Perspective Forum” and “Smart Youth Integration in the Four Places”, the “Cross-Strait Talk” forum launched by China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) is mainly characterized by gathering authoritative scholars and media workers from Cross-Straits and four places. They will listen to the voice of the Strait, pay attention to the hot spots on both sides of Taiwan Strait, take a global vision, and make a new voice based on both sides of the strait and facing the world.