Symposium on "Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Cross-Straits Economic and Trade Relations under the Framework of RCEP", co-hosted by the Book and Newspaper Information Center of Renmin University of China and Fujian Academy of Social Sciences, and co-organized by Taiwan Work Department of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Journal of the Asia-Pacific Economy, Journal of Modern Taiwan Studies, and Asia-Pacific Research Center of Fujian Academy of Social Sciences, took place from October 22 to 24 in Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Chinese mainland’s closest neighbor of Taiwan. 

A photo of the symposium taken in Pingtan 

More than 100 attendees including experts and scholars from Tsinghua University and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences as well as leaders of academic journals weighed in on deepening Asia-Pacific economic cooperation under the framework of RCEP, promoting the development of cross-Straits economic and trade relations, the innovative development of academic journals, and the integrative development of Pingtan in cross-Straits relations.

Sheng Jiuyuan, director and researcher of the Center for Taiwan Studies of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said that Pingtan plays an irreplaceable role in promoting cross-Straits integration and development from both historical and geographical perspectives. That role will be greater in the future to make Pingtan a demonstration zone and a trailblazer for the integration and development across the Straits.

In recent years, with the goal of exploring a new way of cross-Straits integration and development, Pingtan has been vigorously working on cross-Straits logistics, qualification recognition for Taiwan’s professionals, grassroots governance, and cultural and economic exchanges.

A sub-forum was set up on the sideline of the symposium, focusing on the development of Pingtan. 

"RCEP is an important indicator for Pingtan’s opening up and development. There are 6 dissertations concerning Pingtan at this forum which cover topics such as integrative development and industrial development and the link to RCEP. All these are of great significance for Pingtan to tap into new resources of think tanks and kick-start new development," said Su Meixiang, director and researcher of the Institute of Modern Taiwan Studies, Fujian Academy of Social Sciences.

It is reported that the symposium has been held for three consecutive years, and the fourth seminar was held in Pingtan, which is an innovative attempt to combine high-end think tanks with the development practice of Pingtan.

It is worth mentioning that the Institute for Modern Taiwan Studies was designated as a research base of Fujian-Taiwan integrative development in 2020, and carried out in-depth collaborations with the Taiwan Work Department of Pingtan. The symposium, part of collaborations, aims to draw on think tanks to provide intellectual support to step up the construction of the demonstration zone for cross-Straits integration and development.

Voices

Sheng Jiuyuan, Researcher and Director of the Center for Taiwan Studies, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences:

“Doing more research on Austronesian archaeology and making good use of the archaeological results should be given a prominent position. At present, Taiwan authorities claim that Taiwan’s culture originates from the Austronesian, and they also emphasize the division from the mainland. However, the archaeological findings of the Austronesian in Pingtan have proven otherwise.”

Jiang Ling, professor of Southwestern University of Finance and Economics:

“The symposium is themed around RCEP, and Pingtan is the closest place on the mainland to Taiwan. It means a lot to study the two together. First of all, Pingtan is the largest island and the fifth largest in China. Boosted by well-developed infrastructure, it has enormous potentials to take off. Under the framework of RCEP, Pingtan is deeply engaged in economic and trade with Taiwan, which is promising.”

Chen Jian’an, a scholar from Taiwan and an associate professor of School of Journalism and Communication, Minnan Normal University:

“At present, the research on Taiwan from the universities and research institutes continues to deepen, which is conducive to the integration and development across the Taiwan Straits. Pingtan enjoys geographical advantages of being proximity to Taiwan, and they have a lot in common. As for Taiwan compatriots, Pingtan is a good place for investment, residence, study, and work.”

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