A delegation from the Third Wednesday Club, the largest social enterprise coalition in Taiwan, visited the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone (PCPZ) in Fujian province on April 17.

The delegation was led by Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Third Wednesday Club and former chairman of Taiwan's Exchange Foundation.

Li Dejin (R), director of the administration of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, meets with Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the Third Wednesday Club and former chairman of Taiwan's Exchange Foundation, in Pingtan on April 17. [Photo/ptnet.cn]

The guests had a brisk tour at a customs checkpoint, a ferry terminal and the duty-free Pingtan-Taiwan Commodity Market, and met with local officials.

Li Dejin, director of PCPZ’s administrative committee, welcomed and thanked the guests for their continued support and contribution to Pingtan’s development.

With an improved infrastructure, a sound business environment and preferential policies, Pingtan has mature conditions for cross-Straits integrations. It hopes to absorb Taiwan’s experience in logistics, urban construction and tourism and cooperate with the Third Wednesday Club in building Pingtan into an international resort and a free trade port, said Li.

Pingtan has made marvelous efforts to achieve a fast-than-expected growth and still boasts vast potential thanks to its proximity to Taiwan and favorable policies from mainland authorities. The Third Wednesday Club is looking for investment opportunities in Pingtan and wants to join hands with Pingtan to construct a “Common Homeland”, said Chiang.

The visiting entrepreneurs also weighed in on how Pingtan can accomplish a bigger success in future.

Pingtan, if it wants to “go globally”, must pay attention to “details”, meaning it will foster its characteristics rather than pursue an extensive development pattern, which may cost more time. Moreover, to attract professionals is more important than attracting investment, said Xu Shengxiong, vice chairman of the Third Wednesday Club.

Guo Qinghe, board chairman of the Amos Co Ltd, praised the duty-free Pingtan-Taiwan Commodity Market, and said that it can improve service to appeal to more tourists.

Lin Yixuan, a counselor for the Cross-Straits Economic and Trade and Cultural Exchange Association, pledged that the association will made more efforts in economic and cultural exchange between Pingtan and Taiwan.