Football fans from Taiwan are welcome to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the Chinese mainland, where they can enjoy convenient life services and experience the mainland's vibrant development, Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
During the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup, multiple cinemas in east China's Fujian Province have launched live broadcasting services for World Cup matches, attracting many Taiwan compatriots to watch games alongside fellow football fans on the mainland. This initiative has been praised for providing Taiwan fans with an excellent viewing experience while fostering warmer and more vibrant cross-Strait grassroots exchanges.
"The 2026 FIFA World Cup is a grand celebration for football fans around the world. The tournament has now reached the semi-finals and is entering its final stretch. We warmly welcome football fans from Taiwan to visit the mainland to watch the matches. While here, they can watch live broadcasts anytime and anywhere via television, the internet, and mobile apps. They can also visit cinemas offering live World Cup screenings to fully experience the passion on the pitch alongside their mainland compatriots, while enjoying the mainland's convenient lifestyle services and vibrant developmental energy. After the World Cup, our friends from Taiwan can also attend live matches of regional super leagues, such as the Fujian (Minchao), Jiangsu (Suchao), Guangdong (Yuechao), Northeast (Dongbeichao), and Sichuan (Chuanchao) leagues, to fully experience the charm of football and the vibrant cultural and tourism offerings across different regions," said Zhu.
Mainland welcomes Taiwan fans to share joy in viewing World Cup: spokeswoman
China's investment in rural road construction totaled 144.3 billion yuan (around 21.31 billion U.S. dollars) in the first half of this year, said the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday.
The investment is part of broader efforts to expand and upgrade the rural road network, as China is pushing to transit rural roads from "accessibility" to "quality improvement."
In northwest China's Qinghai Province, a highway project connecting Daotanghe Town in Gonghe County to the Qinghai Lake scenic area is nearing completion, with workers racing to finish road markings and install traffic signs.
The new highway, which is set to open by the end of this month, will link two towns and three villages along the way, benefiting more than 6,000 residents.
"The road will fill the gaps in the county's rural transport network and ease traffic pressure around the Qinghai Lake. It will also boost rural tourism along the route, including homestays and farm-stay businesses, expanding the channels for local farmers' and herders to earn more," said Li Debiao, deputy head of the Gonghe County Transport Bureau.
In Tongjiang County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, construction workers are repairing damaged road surfaces and clogged drainage systems, while improving guardrails and traffic signs.
The 130-kilometer upgrade project in Tongjiang is expected to be fully finished by the end of November.
"The road used to be out of repair for years and full of potholes, especially in rainy days. It was hard for us even to go to the market. Now with the road fixed, it will be much easier for us to travel and sell our local products. It has really solved a big problem in our daily life and production," said Fu Deliang, a villager of Longzhuanping in the county.
Official data showed that in the first half of the year, China built or upgraded 34,000 kilometers of rural roads, carried out safety barrier projects on 21,000 kilometers of rural roads, and renovated over 1,570 dilapidated bridges.
The ministry also promoted work-relief programs in rural road projects, creating jobs for local residents.
A total of 806 such projects were carried out across the country in the first half of the year, generating 120 million yuan (around 17.72 million U.S. dollars) in labor income and employing 14,000 rural workers, including over 3,000 people who have been lifted out of poverty.
Investment in rural roads totals 144.3 bln yuan in H1
