A Chinese spokeswoman on Thursday called for stronger cross-Strait tourism exchanges, saying visits can deepen kinship and ease psychological distance between compatriots on both sides of the strait.
Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks as June 28 marked the 15th anniversary of the launch of individual travel to Taiwan for mainland residents, highlighting the milestone as context for her appeal.
She emphasized tourism's role in deepening mutual understanding and boosting local markets, describing it as a win‑win for both sides.
"Tourism is an encounter between people and scenery, a meeting between people. Group tours and individual tours to Taiwan can not only bring tourists to Taiwan's cultural and tourism industry and revitalize the island's consumer market, but also promote mutual understanding between compatriots on both sides of the strait. This is a win-win situation, and the industry on the island is full of expectations for it. We warmly welcome compatriots from both sides of the strait to visit each other and travel together. When visiting the mainland, you can climb the Great Wall to feel the grandeur of the landscape, visit the Forbidden City in Beijing to experience history and culture, and stroll along West Lake in Hangzhou to appreciate the charm of the coastal area south of the Yangtze River. When mainland tourists visiting Taiwan, you can climb Alishan, boat on Sun Moon Lake, explore the Gukeng Green Tunnel, walk through the East Longitudinal Valley, and enjoy the coastal scenery. The two sides of the strait are connected by mountains and rivers and share the same cultural heritage. We look forward to more compatriots from both sides crossing the strait for visits and exchanges, continuously enhancing compatriot friendship and narrowing the psychological distance," said Zhu.
People-to-people exchanges key to advancing cross-Strait relations: spokeswoman
An exchange event bringing together young baseball players from China and the United States is underway in Fuzhou, the capital of east China's Fujian province, providing a platform for these young people to build friendships and enhance mutual understanding through sports and cultural exchanges.
The event, "Bond with Kuliang: 2026 China-U.S. Youth Baseball Exhibition Games and Sports Festival," runs from Monday to Thursday.
As part of the event, exhibition games featuring four U.S. youth teams and four Chinese teams were held on Tuesday at Fuzhou's Pingtan Baseball Park.
In an exciting game, China's Fujian Provincial Baseball Team took on the U.S. Northeastern State University RiverHawks. Hits, diving catches, and every brilliant play ignited the crowd, creating an electric atmosphere.
"It's honestly once in a lifetime opportunity and experience, because it's a great way to get along, have fun and just build friendships together," said Hill from the U.S. Northeastern State University RiverHawks.
But it wasn't just about the competition. A touching moment unfolded when an American player injured his finger during a game. A Chinese player noticed right away and quickly called for a medic.
"Injuries are hard to avoid in baseball. They can happen suddenly. There was no team doctor in the opposing team's dugout, so I called out to our side to see if they had any plasters, and asked our medic to help treat him," said Lu Yun from the Fujian Provincial Baseball Team.
"One of their players was nice enough to give me a bandage. The only ones I know in Mandarin are thank you (Xiexie), so that's what I said. It's cool how baseball can connect even if you don't speak the same language; you can play baseball together," U.S. player Osborne expressed his gratitude.
Beyond the baseball matches, the young athletes also visited Minjiang University in Fuzhou City as part of the event, where they played basketball and learned Chinese martial arts together. During the campus visit, they also explored a university lab to learn about innovative research and achievements.
Baseball events in Fuzhou build friendship between China, US youth
