The State Council Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference in Beijing on April 15. Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the office, answered questions from a Hunan Daily journalist and briefing on the 2026 Cross-Strait (Hunan) Youth Exchange and Development Conference.

Hunan has hosted two sessions of the Cross-Strait (Hunan) Youth Exchange and Development Conference. This year's session opens in Changsha on April 16, themed "Friendly Hunan, Where Youth Meets." It leverages the policy dividends of Hunan's efforts to build a youth‑friendly province, complete industrial foundation, competitive business environment, profound cultural heritage, and regional advantages characterized by "low‑cost entrepreneurship and high‑quality life," to further promote exchanges and communication between young people from Hunan and Taiwan, and to deepen exchanges and collaboration across various fields between the two sides.

A variety of events will be held during the conference, such as the 2026 Cross-Strait Entrepreneurs and Youths Innovation and Entrepreneurship Exchange, "A Spring Journey Along the Xiangjiang River" Hunan-Taiwan Cross-Strait Art Exchange Week, and the Cross-Strait Youth E-sports, Music, and Trendy Culture Exchange Camp. In addition, relevant policies and measures supporting Taiwanese youth in studying, living, seeking employment, and starting businesses in Hunan will be promoted, providing all-round support for young people from Taiwan to come to Hunan for study, internships, work, and entrepreneurship.

This year's session is of an unprecedented scale, with over 500 compatriots from both sides of the strait participating, including nearly 400 guests and young people from Taiwan.

Hunan and Taiwan are close to each other in terms of geographical location, ancestral ties, cultural heritage, and business ties. In 2025, the number of inbound visits to Hunan made by Taiwanese travelers hit 336,000, reaching a six-year high. In the first quarter of 2026, among the inbound and outbound travelers at Hunan's ports, Taiwanese compatriots made 6,700 entry-exit trips, a 19.6-fold increase year on year. Hunan is attracting the attention of more and more young people from Taiwan with its "low-cost entrepreneurship" and "high-quality life."

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government. www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Pang Yuehui

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn