As far as Meng is concerned, a lack of knowledge about the mainland has blinded young Taiwanese people to the prospects they could enjoy there.
"If we tell young people from Taiwan what situations they are going to encounter in the mainland and how they can deal with them, their concerns will melt away," said Meng.
During the May 4 meeting, Xi called for efforts to create more opportunities for ordinary people, small businesses, farmers, fishermen and young people who want to start their own career, promising to protect the legitimate interests and rights of Taiwanese businesses on the mainland and create a better environment for their development.
MORE TO COME
Following the Xi-Chu meet, Xi and Ma Ying-jeou came together in Singapore in November in the first meeting between leaders of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait since 1949, turning a historic page in cross-Strait relations.
"It was such a sweet moment when Xi and Ma were holding hands together, just like family members," said Cheng You-ping, professor with National Taipei University, "This perfectly showed that Taiwan and the mainland belong to a community of common destiny."
Figures provided by Ma at the time showed that more than 40,000 students have taken advantage of academic exchange programs, and more than eight million tourists have traveled between the two sides each year since 2008, when the mainland and Taiwan embarked on a peaceful development fast track with dozens of agreements signed. Annual trade is now worth over 170 billion U.S. dollars.
Last year, 40 percent of tourists visiting Taiwan came from the mainland. It is also Taiwan's largest destination of investment and export.
During China's "two sessions" political congresses in March, Xi told legislators that the mainland's policy toward Taiwan is clear and consistent, and it will not change with Taiwan's political situation.
"Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait are expecting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and we should not disappoint them," he added.
Echoing Xi's words, the government work report reiterated "a cross-Strait community of common destiny," vowing to share with "our fellow countrymen and women in Taiwan both the responsibility of the Chinese nation and opportunities for development."
"Building a community of common destiny between both sides of the Taiwan Strait has been an effective approach and a vital goal for pushing forward cross-Strait relations," said Ni Yongjie, vice director of Shanghai's Taiwan Research Institute.
Two days prior to Chinese New Year in February, a powerful earthquake killed 117 people in southern Taiwan.
The following day, the counties of Beichuan and Lushan in southwest China's Sichuan Province, both having suffered greatly in the devastating May 12 earthquake in 2008 and received support from Taiwan afterwards, offered relief donations to the Taiwan Red Cross.
"Compatriots across the Taiwan Strait are one family whose blood is thicker than water," Xi said when expressing his condolences to quake victims on the same day.
"The historical experiences and lessons, the present emotional connection between people across the Strait, as well as the need for future integration of resources on both sides have called for building a community of common destiny," said Ni.
