The Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, in southeast China's Fujian province, is set to become a training base for graduate students of China's elite Tsinghua University.

Under the framework deal signed on Monday, Pingtan will serve as an experimental base for graduate students from Tsinghua - and universities in Taiwan - to boost cross-Straits communication.

Companies in Pingtan can apply to use any scientific achievements made by Tsinghua's students during their studies in Pingtan, and Tsinghua University will hold special recruitment fairs for Pingtan, and will assist the zone with the recruitment of teachers.

The deal also states that the university will promote research collaborations with companies in Pingtan and hold communication events in the zone.

"Pingtan presents a great opportunity and huge space for cooperation between high education institutes and local governments. It also creates a platform for the improvement of talents," said Lin Chengtao, an administrative staff member with Tsinghua.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman