Important activity

Ma, the former "president" of Taiwan, said the visit was the most important youth exchange activity between the two sides in recent years, and also the best birthday gift he could receive as he turned 73 last month.

He criticized the island's current administration, led by the Democratic Progressive Party's Tsai Ing-wen, for the stagnant state of cross-Strait relations in which communication with the mainland has almost ground to a halt.

When Ma was elected as Taiwan's "president" in 2008, the authorities allowed mainland students to study at Taiwan universities, and more than 800 young mainlanders studied on the island that year.

By the time he stepped down in 2016, the number had soared to 42,000, he said.

Since then, as cross-Strait relations deteriorated after the DPP came to power and with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, cross-Strait exchanges were almost completely suspended for more than three years, he said.

Expressing deep concern about the state of cross-Strait communication in recent years, Ma said that he hoped the visit would signal a turning point in relations and that communication would return to normal.

In addition to continuing to organize exchange programs between young students, his foundation will also promote a forum for cross-Strait university presidents in the future, he said.

Zhang, the mainland student, said, "Our trip to Taiwan was seen as a breakthrough by many. People were eager to expand and restore exchanges and normalize relations because the desire for communication on both sides was urgent.

"If we truly want to understand each other, we need to go out for face-to-face communication, meet and integrate with each other to truly increase understanding while respecting our differences."

Li said that since the mainland group returned home, students on both sides have stayed in touch. Recently, one of the students from Taiwan came to work in Hunan, so they are planning a dinner together and to take him on a trip.

"As the ones who have had firsthand experience of Taiwan, we can spread the word and share the comprehensive, genuine Taiwan that we have witnessed with the people around us," she said.

She added that mainland students will transmit the goodwill they received and tell others that the young people in Taiwan are friendly and eager for contact.

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