This year's election in Taiwan on Jan 14, in which current Kuomintang chairman, Ma Ying-jeou defeated Tsai Ing-wen, the candidate of Democratic Progressive Party, came during a critical period of political and economic changes for the Asia-Pacific region. The ongoing global financial and economic crisis has severely affected the region's major economies, as exports have declined and unemployment is rising rapidly. In addition to the economic uncertainties, Asia-Pacific's regional stability is further complicated by the forthcoming presidential elections in the United States and the Republic of Korea, the leadership transition in China, and, of course, the recent power transition in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea following the death of Kim Jong-il. Therefore, Ma's victory is not only significant for political ties across the Straits, but also for wider regional stability.

Ma will now have to deliver on his election promises, and make the cross-Straits economic and social exchanges beneficial for both Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. During Ma's first term in office, there were landmark deals, such as the opening of direct air and sea links, and the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, which allowed fruit and other products from the island to be exported to the mainland without tariffs. Nevertheless, in order to sustain peace and stability across the Straits, both sides must increase "people-to-people" exchanges at the grassroots level. While both sides have normalized economic relations in the past few years, it is the social ties among people that will contribute to greater cross-Straits dialogue and understanding.

In particular, educational exchanges between young people and students can play an important role in fostering intercultural dialogue, by building people-to-people contacts, enhancing mutual trust, and promoting a regional view and identity. Compared with the systematically developed educational exchange mechanism in the European Union, academic cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan has been limited by policy restraints, despite the interest shown by universities and students from both sides.

Essential policy framework, such as the mutual recognition of degrees and diplomas and joint research initiatives, is also absent. Despite the recent establishment of sister and partner universities between institutions on the mainland and the island, the flow of students is mainly a one-way traffic, dominated by the influx of students from Taiwan to the mainland. In contrast, the mobility of students between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions is much higher and more evenly distributed. Also, while the majority of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan students are enrolling in degree programs in China, most mainland students go to Taiwan for only short exchange visits and summer schools.

As a consequence of the intensified Beijing-Taipei interaction after 2008, new opportunities for academic exchanges have arisen. For instance, the demographic reality in Taiwan means there is a serious shortage of students for higher education institutes. In August 2010, after 15 years of discussion, a landmark bill was passed in Taiwan which allowed universities to recruit around 2,000 mainland students each year. However, there are a number of restraints on the admission of students - for example, on the subjects of study and the types of institutions - which have prohibited students from enrolling in certain disciplines.

Furthermore, only students from six mainland provinces are eligible to study in Taiwan. This seriously limits the potential pool of candidates. In its first year of recruitment in 2011, while all undergraduate places are now filled, there is a serious shortage of applicants for higher degrees.

The mobility of people and such interpersonal and intercultural contacts are important factors in promoting dialogue and drawing us all closer. Lively interaction among people from different backgrounds allows us to put aside stereotypes and overcome prejudices.

While naturally politics and economics still remain the most powerful factors in cross-Straits relations, intensifying education exchanges must be seen as a wise and realistic way of overcoming misconceptions, and will be an important step towards deepening dialogue and enhancing mutual trust.

The success of the European Erasmus Program illustrates how academic exchanges and cooperation, through the mobility of the newer generations of young people and students, can lead to socialization and integration from the grassroots upwards. Therefore, if cross-Straits educational exchanges can be efficiently coordinated by the authorities on both sides they can play a forceful role in spreading goodwill and building a common identity. Let us ensure pragmatic steps are taken to facilitate and encourage people-to-people exchanges.

The author is associate dean for China programs and professor of international affairs, ESSCA School of Management, Angers, France.

(China Daily 02/04/2012 page5)