Pingtan center a key stop for Taiwan compatriots seeking mainland qualifications

Chu Chen-szu, from Hsinchu, Taiwan, and a graduate of journalism, recently obtained her internet marketing professional license in Pingtan, East China's Fujian province, this month. She believes that the certification will greatly benefit her career development.

Pingtan, located off the coast of Fujian and being the closest mainland county to Taiwan, is implementing innovative measures to assist Taiwan residents in obtaining professional qualifications in mainland.

In May, Chu applied for the license. After undergoing more than three months of online and offline training courses, she studied various internet-related topics, especially those related to short-video platforms, through a center in Pingtan that provides job training for people from Taiwan and passed the exam.

"The internet industry is very popular, and I am very interested in it. Taiwan does not offer this professional certification. Besides me, many Taiwan compatriots are willing to obtain this certificate to work in mainland or return to Taiwan as live streamers," she said.

Last year, the center served over 450 Taiwan residents who participated in various skills training and certification exams. It also offered job recommendations for Taiwan residents seeking employment in mainland.

To address the problem that the professional qualification evaluation systems between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are different, Pingtan pioneered the recognition of professional qualifications from Taiwan in 2018.

Wang Kun-you from Taiwan obtained a surveying professional certificate in Taiwan. Last year, he came to the center in Pingtan for recognition and exchanged his certificate for an equivalent land surveyor certificate in mainland, which is more widely recognized by employers, making it convenient for him to work in mainland.

"The exchange process is very convenient. There is no need for exams. I have to simply submit the required documents and receive the new certificate," he said.

The center has issued over 2,300 professional certificates for people from Taiwan.

Wang Kuei-feng, from Taiwan and working at the center in charge of dealing with various professional certificates for Taiwan compatriots, said when he arrived in mainland in 2019 he had to figure out how to obtain a bank card and a phone card, which made him understand deeply the difficulties that newcomers will encounter.

"My goal is to ensure that Taiwan compatriots can obtain bank cards and phone cards on the same day they arrive, so as to adapt to mainland life easier," he said.

Deng Jiahui contributed to this story.