A series of tailored policies have been released by a number of Chinese mainland authorities to help cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, a mainland spokesman said on August 13.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made public the policies of the China National Arts Fund (CNAF), Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and the cities of Nanjing and Guangzhou. The policies were made on the basis of 31 measures unveiled by the office in February.

According to the CNAF, Taiwanese artists working or studying on the mainland will be allowed to apply for projects in 2019, and art institutions from the mainland and Taiwan are encouraged to jointly apply for such projects.

According to 80 measures released by Guangxi, Taiwanese compatriots will enjoy the same treatment as locals in investment, starting businesses, employment, studying and living.

Nanjing has issued 75 measures, including one that will provide Taiwanese university students, who study in Taiwan but take a three-month internship in Nanjing, with a 1,000 yuan ($145) travel allowance.

According to 60 measures released by Guangzhou, the city will offer more than 1,200 jobs and over 300 internships for Taiwanese university students annually.

The 31 measures released by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council include 12 on equal treatment for Taiwanese enterprises, and 19 on offering Taiwanese compatriots equality with mainland compatriots in education, setting up businesses, and working and living on the mainland.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2018)