New facility to honor Sun Yat-sen

Authorities in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, plan to build an institute of higher education in Cuiheng village, the birthplace of Sun Yat-sen, China's democratic revolutionary leader.

The move is part of efforts by the local authority to foster stronger ties with Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, Xue Xiaofeng, the city's Party chief, said on Wednesday.

In addition, the local authorities also planned a cultural zone in the Cuicheng area to attract investment in education and culture from Taiwan, according to Xue.

"The establishment of the higher educational institute and a cultural zone is part of our efforts to promote Sun Yat-sen's spirit," Xue said.

Sun, who led the 1911 Revolution against the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and ended thousands of years of imperial rule in China, lived in the village from 1892 to 1895.

"We are striving to develop the village into an important spiritual home for overseas Chinese who hold a special place for Sun in their hearts," Xue said at a forum held to discuss Sun on Wednesday.

Xue said the government plans to build an urban area around the village, which also includes a high-end industrial base, educational compound and a central business zone.

Educational authorities in Zhongshan had signed a cooperative agreement with the Macao University of Science and Technology to build a higher educational institute, sources said.

Authorities from Zhongshan and Taiwan also vowed at the forum to boost social and economic ties.

Zhongshan has nearly 1,000 Taiwanese-funded companies, with investment worth $4.7 billion, sources with the local Taiwan affairs office said.

Zhongshan's imports from Taiwan reached $730 million in the first half of this year, becoming the largest destination for Taiwan's exports.

Also, authorities in Zhongshan signed 21 projects ranging from economic, trade, culture and education to science with counterparts from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.

Johan Chiang, vice-chairman of the Kuomintang Party, said Taiwan and the mainland have made great efforts to foster stronger social and economic ties since China's reform and opening up.