Gong Qinggai, director of the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, met with Zhang Mingqing, vice-chairperson of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), on the afternoon of Jan 6, Pingtan Times reported.

Similar to how Shenzhen and Zhuhai on the Chinese mainland serve as gateways to Hong Kong and Macao, Pingtan, the closest spot on the mainland to Taiwan, will be built into a main channel to connect with Taiwan, according to Gong. He expressed his hope to open more sea routes between Pingtan and Taiwan for cross-Straits communication.

Gong also noted that despite the rapid business and trade development across the Straits under the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed in 2010, there still are limitations for both sides – including limited access for small and medium-sized enterprises, low transportation efficiency and high costs. Direct channels between Pingtan and Taiwan will resolve these limitations and help build a common cross-Straits industry, market and homeland.

Zhang expressed his admiration for Pingtan's development in the last two years. He encouraged Pingtan to promote cross-Straits economic, social and cultural communication. He also promised that ARATS will support Pingtan in its efforts to develop into a platform for personage and goods exchange across the Straits.

Chen Dongrong, deputy director of the pilot zone's administrative committee, also took part in the meeting.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai