Cities in Fujian province, which borders the Taiwan Straits, have considered detailed measures to put into practice the country's newly unveiled 31-article policy offering equal treatment to residents on both sides of the straits.The measures discussed include encouraging local institutions that offer guarantees to small and medium-sized enterprises to include Taiwan businesses in their financing services, supporting professors and teachers from Taiwan in applying for research projects and inspiring technical talent from Taiwan to join local professional associations, city officials said during the recent national legislative session.Altogether, 22 of 31 measures have already been implemented in Fujian, which has long been a window of exchange and cooperation between people on the two sides of the straits, according to Zhong Zhigang, deputy director of the Fujian Provincial Taiwan Affairs Office.Other measures will be taken soon as part of a maximum effort to include Taiwan residents in the local public services system, including education, employment and residency, and generally in the tide of economic and social development sweeping the Chinese mainland, he said.Lin Wenyao, a deputy to the National People's Congress and director of the administrative committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area in Fujian, said the area-the closest to Taiwan geographically-aims to become a demonstration zone in this respect."We're mulling plans to build the area into a second living space for Taiwan residents by introducing high-end services" Lin said.Lin said some measures in the 31-article policy, which took effect at the end of February, were already implemented in the area, such as recognizing Taiwan residents' professional qualifications in the fields of medicine, architecture, design and education."Nearly 300 Taiwan residents have benefited from the policy," he said.Moreover, in Pingtan, Taiwan residents have been able to qualify for five-year visas since September 2015.Chen Zixuan, an NPC deputy from Xiamen, the city that first introduced regulations embracing Taiwan residents for employment and investment in 1994, suggested further detailed measures to eliminate inconvenience for Taiwan residents.One of her suggestions is to unify the eight-digit mainland travel permit for Taiwan residents with an 18-digit mainland resident-style ID so that those coming from Taiwan can simply swipe their permits when checking in for flights or when taking trains. They could also more easily register for shared bikes and other services. baller bandscustom livestrong braceletsman city wristbandswristband creationbat fidget spinner
South Korean President Moon Jae-in takes a walk with senior presidential secretaries at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul, South Korea, May 11, 2017. [Photo/Agencies] SEOUL - South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Sunday named top-level presidential staff and cabinet members on security, foreign affairs and economy. Moon told a press conference at the presidential Blue House, announcing his appointment of Chung Eui-yong as his top national security advisor who leads the National Security Office of the Blue House. Chung is a career diplomat who was mainly in charge of trade. He is a former lawmaker of the Uri Party, a predecessor of the current ruling Democratic Party. During the presidential campaign, Chung led a special advisory group overseeing Moon's diplomatic policy. Since Moon's inauguration, Chung led the Blue House's advisory group on security and foreign affairs. The appointment indicated Moon's will to place more significance on diplomacy, rather than a hard-line approach, in dealing with issues on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile interception system. The top security post was usually assumed by former military commanders, which led to a hard-line approach to security issues. Chung's appointment heralded dialogue and diplomacy in South Korea's dealing with security. Moon told reporters that under the past governments, security was seen from the narrow perspective of national defense, saying the diplomatic role became more significant in tackling the DPRK's nuclear program. The qualification for the head of the National Security Office, Moon said, will be a diplomatic capability given the intertwined situations between security, diplomatic and economic affairs. Asked about THAAD, Chung said the US missile shield deployment lacked of a procedural legitimacy, noting that South Korea's position on THAAD was explained sufficiently to relevant countries, which he said recognized South Korea's position. Moon Chung-in, an honorary professor at Yonsei University in Seoul, and Hong Seok-hyun, former chief of a local newspaper and cable channel, were named special presidential aides for unification, security and diplomatic affairs. Prof. Moon is a noted South Korean expert on international politics who is known to have been deeply involved in setting theoretical foundations for a so-called Sunshine Policy of engagement with the DPRK and a balanced diplomacy in Northeast Asia. Hong is a former ambassador to the United States and was sent to Washington earlier this week as special envoy of President Moon. He is known to have a broad range of personal network in the United States.
