Ma Ying-jeou (center), former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang Party, holds a banner to welcome the visiting Chinese mainland faculty delegation on July 15, 2023. Photo: Global Times

Students and teachers from seven universities in Chinese mainland, invited by the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, will arrive in the island of Taiwan on Wednesday to begin a nine-day journey, mainland and Taiwan media reported. Olympic champions Ma Long and Yang Qian will also be part of the delegation, sparking excitement among the Taiwan public, according to media reports. 

The invited students from the mainland come from renowned universities such as Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Fudan University, according to Taiwan local media, citing the foundation. 

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, said the journey covers nine days, adding that the itinerary will include visits to attractions such as Sun Moon Lake and the Palace Museum in Taipei, as well as exchanges with six universities in Taiwan island. Additionally, baseball experience activities will be arranged to provide mainland students a deeper understanding of Taiwan island's history and culture, promoting the development of cross-Straits relations, Taiwan local media reported. 

Taiwan media outlets noted that the journey includes a special arrangement with a Taiwan high school, aiming to provide high school students in Taiwan the opportunity to interact with students from top universities in Chinese mainland. 

Hsiao noted that the future of both sides of the Taiwan Straits lies with the youth, hoping to provide more opportunities for young people across the Straits to interact, laying a solid foundation for the next generation. He emphasized the need for peace instead of war, and for cross-Straits exchanges instead of "Taiwan independence," and added this represents the true voice of the island of Taiwan, Taiwan media reported. 

During the visit, Ma Long is also expected to showcase his table tennis skills during campus visits, according to Taiwan media reports. 

Some netizens from Taiwan island expressed excitement about Ma's arrival, eager to seize the opportunity to see him showcase his skills. Others warmly welcomed Ma and planned to compile a list of Taiwan delicacies for him to try, China News Service reported. 

Hsiao said his phone has been flooded with calls from the public, all wanting to know the details of Ma's itinerary. Hsu Shu-hua, the magistrate of Nantou County in Taiwan, also added that many fans have been calling the county government to ask whether Ma will be visiting and expressing their desire to take photos with him. The magistrate said she is also a fan of Ma and is ready to help arrange related activities, Jimu News reported. 

Responding to the visit by the mainland teachers and students to Taiwan island at the end of November, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said at a press conference earlier this month that she was pleased to see young people across the Straits have regular interactions and close ties.  

 "We welcome more young people from Taiwan to explore the mainland, and bring youthful energy to the promotion of the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," Zhu added.

Global Times