New infrastructure opens opportunities for Taiwan businesses

Cross-Strait economic and trade exchanges have remained active, with new transport infrastructure, trade fairs, industry events and tourism exchanges creating more opportunities for cooperation, a spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, highlighted the opening of the Pinglu Canal in South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on Sept 16 as one development closely watched by businesses on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The canal, a backbone project of the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor, connects the Xijiang River directly with Beibu Gulf and strengthens links between western regions including Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan and ASEAN countries.

Goods from western regions shipped through the canal can travel more than 560 kilometers less, cutting logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent, Zhu said.

She said Taiwan businesses believe the canal could help Taiwan-funded enterprises better connect with resources in western mainland cities and reduce import and export logistics costs through rail, river and sea transport.

It could also support a supply chain linking raw material processing in western regions, river-sea transshipment through Guangxi and sales in ASEAN markets, creating new opportunities for Taiwan businesses, she said.

Zhu welcomed Taiwan businesses to share the opportunities brought by the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and pursue further development on the mainland.

She also highlighted a series of recent cross-Strait business activities.

More than 40 business associations and Taiwan-funded enterprises participated in a Taiwan-themed exhibition during the 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing from Sept 9 to 13.

During the event, cooperation agreements on agricultural trade and financial services were signed. The Beijing branch of Bank of China and the Beijing association of Taiwan-invested enterprises also signed an agreement providing up to 2 billion yuan ($2.98 billion) in credit financing for Taiwan-funded companies in Beijing.

At the China International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, Fujian province, from Sept 8 to 11, a dedicated cross-Strait integration zone featured Taiwan-funded enterprises, industrial park matchmaking and project promotion.

Zhu said the zone would become a permanent part of the fair, providing further support for cross-Strait economic cooperation.

Exchanges have also extended to tourism. More than 60 tourism industry representatives from the mainland and Taiwan met in Lushan, Jiangxi province, on Sept 11 to discuss joint tourism products and visitor exchanges.

Taiwan tourism representatives said the industry sincerely hoped cross-Strait travel could return to normal as soon as possible, including the resumption of travel by mainland residents to Taiwan island. They said the industry was willing to actively promote such exchanges and contribute to the development of tourism on both sides.

In addition, the 29th Beijing-Taiwan Science and Technology Forum will be held in Beijing from Sept 19 to 21, bringing together business, technology and industry representatives from both sides to discuss industrial integration, digital technologies and healthcare.