Guocai village, Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, Fujian province reaches a deal on rural tourism with Tieban village on Taiwan-controlled Matsu island, Jan 7. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

Guocai village in Fujian's Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone and Tieban village on Taiwan-controlled Matsu island have joined hands and reached a deal on Jan 7 to develop rural tourism, local news portal ptnet.cn reported.

The deal is a direct result of the Taiwan village's visit to Pingtan. The purpose of the visit was to enhance the friendship between people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and to strengthen mutual cooperation on tourism, economy and trade.

The deal says, the Taiwan village will help Pingtan village develop rural tourism. It will also help the Pingtan village establish a tourism organization and explore its ocean culture resources.

An official also said that the two villages will exchange visits, at least once a year. They will also have annual meetings to discuss key issues in their cooperation and brainstorm on new measures to enhance the cooperation.

They also agreed to launch cross-Straits folk culture activities, which feature folk art performances, hundred-family banquet, forums on homestay business and more. Their aim is to introduce the two area's folk culture to more people across the Straits and attract more visitors.

With beautiful scenery and favorable location along the seaside, the Guocai village has received recognition as a provincial ecological village and a national beautiful village.