The Fujian Wenwu Xuefeng Farm, a modern agricultural park featuring tea production, is invested in by a Taiwan businessman. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]

More than 200 architects from Taiwan have contributed to rural development in East China's Fujian province as of August this year.

Authorities at the province's office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs said that the province is encouraging more professionals from Taiwan to contribute to efforts such as improving the rural living environment, building a beautiful countryside and protecting traditional villages.

"Taiwan has abundant experience in rural construction, while Fujian is rich in natural resources and has a wider market. There is strong potential for cooperation between the two sides," said Tseng Chih Ying, an architect from Taiwan responsible for renovating a historical and cultural block in Meicheng town, Minqing county, Fuzhou. The block has become a popular scenic spot in Fujian.

A new system of rural governance has been pioneered in Fujian. The coastal city of Xiamen and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone have introduced a number of community builders to participate in the rural development.

Statistics show that Fujian has approved 2,721 Taiwan-funded agricultural projects with a total contractual investment of $4.06 billion, both of which rank first on the Chinese mainland.

Fujian currently houses six pioneering parks for Taiwan farmers, with 642 Taiwan enterprises settled in the parks, generating an annual output value of more than 6 billion yuan ($868.2 million).

Additionally, Fujian is constructing nine industrial parks to accelerate the integrated development of the Fujian and Taiwan agricultural sectors, as well as 100 development bases to create an employment and entrepreneurship community serving Taiwan residents.