Xiamen Bank issued a credit card to Taiwan compatriot Wu Jiaying, chairman of the Taiwan Entrepreneurs Association in Xiamen, during the 11th Straits Forum held from June 15 to 21.

The move marks the first time that a credit card has been issued to a Taiwan person in the Chinese mainland, and is also an important move for Xiamen Bank, the only city commercial bank in the Chinese mainland with a Taiwan investor, in its mission to expand business with Taiwan clients.

The card surface features a Chinese ink wash drawing of Sunlight Rock, a symbolic scenic spot in Xiamen, and Taiwan Island on both its sides, expressing excitement for close cross-Straits exchanges.

Wu believes that the credit card illustrates the concern that the Chinese mainland has for its Taiwan compatriots and expects that it will make it easier for the people of Taiwan to start a business or settle down in the mainland.

Xu Jie, general manager of the retail department of Xiamen Bank, said that Taiwan people in the Chinese mainland can settle accounts in renminbi with the credit card, sparing them from foreign exchange rates.

Xiamen, home to more than 120,000 Taiwan residents, has long been working to ensure Taiwan residents enjoy the same treatment as local residents.

The city, which welcomed the first Taiwan company in 1983, has become a hub for investors from Taiwan. The city's industrial structure, which includes software information, integrated circuits, and cultural and creative industries, is similar to that in Taiwan.

Xiamen Bank issues a credit card to Taiwan compatriot Wu Jiaying, chairman of Taiwan Entrepreneurs Association in Xiamen, during the 11th Straits Forum. [Photo/chinanews.com]