Mainland welcomes Taiwan enterprises to pursue development amid buzz over motorcycle victory

A mainland spokeswoman on Wednesday welcomed Taiwan compatriots and enterprises to pursue development on the mainland, following heated discussions on the island over the historic double victory by mainland motorcycle brand ZXMOTO at the World Superbike Championship (WSBK) in Portimao, Portugal.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference in Beijing when asked about online reactions in Taiwan, where many netizens praised the rising quality of mainland manufacturing and called for stronger cross-Strait industrial cooperation.

"More and more mainland brands and products, including robots, drones, new energy vehicles and motorcycles, have expanded into overseas markets, capturing global attention, earning widespread recognition, and becoming the preferred choice for consumers worldwide. Backed by a complete industrial ecosystem and a solid industrial foundation, products made in the Chinese mainland continue to set new records," said Zhu.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), we will continue to advance high-quality development and build a modern industrial system anchored by advanced manufacturing. The mainland is indeed a fertile ground for innovators and entrepreneurs, opening up broader horizons for cross-Strait industrial cooperation. We sincerely welcome Taiwan compatriots and enterprises to pursue development on the mainland, deepening cross-Strait exchanges, cooperation and integrated development, so as to strengthen the Chinese economy together," she said.

Mainland welcomes Taiwan enterprises to pursue development amid buzz over motorcycle victory

The China-Laos Railway has recorded robust growth in cross-border cargo trade, with its first-quarter value rising 62.7 percent year on year to 6.81 billion yuan (about 992 million U.S. dollars), a record high for the period.

From January to March this year, exports of photovoltaic products surged 43.2 times year on year to 1.19 billion yuan, while imports of fresh and dried fruits doubled to 500 million yuan, according to Kunming Customs in the border province of Yunnan in southwest China.

The railway is emerging as an efficient two-way corridor for "Chinese manufactured goods heading south and Southeast Asian specialties heading north", the customs noted.

Since its launch, the total value of imports and exports via the railway had exceeded 80 billion yuan as of Tuesday.

The railway now serves over 6,000 enterprises across China, with its trade influence extending to 19 countries and regions, including Laos and Thailand. The range of traded goods has expanded from around 500 categories at the start of operations to more than 3,800.

Kunming Customs has introduced various measures to facilitate border trade along the railway.

The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operations in December 2021. The 1,035-km-long railway connects China's Kunming with Vientiane in Laos.

China-Laos Railway sees robust growth in cross-border trade