A total of 130 businesspeople from Fujian province and Taiwan gathered in the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone on Oct 14 to discuss Pingtan's development and further cooperation.

Chen Dongrong, deputy director of the zone's management committee, gave a presentation about Pingtan's opening-up and development, including its plans, targets, current situation, and the favorable policies it offers to investors.

He also said that he hopes the meeting will encourage the participants from Taiwan to learn more about Pingtan and to contribute to the zone's development.

It was the first time that such a meeting gathered participants sharing the same surname – who are considered to be of the same clan - who met in an informal manner and also discussed commercial opportunities.

Participants from Taiwan said that they all have common ancestors and they could participate in cultural exchanges, which would likely lead to investment and also promote trade between Pingtan and Taiwan.

The meeting was hosted by Fujian Surname Origins Research Society's Chen Committee, the Taiwan Kaohsiung People Exchange Association, Kaohsiung Economic Industrial Development Association, and the Fujian and Taiwan Surnamed Chen Entrepreneur Association.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman