Fujian is located on the southeastern coast of the mainland, facing Taiwan Province to the east across the Taiwan Straits. As part of the East China Sea, it borders Zhejiang Province on the northeast, Jiangxi Province by the Wuyi Mountains on the northwest, and Guangdong Province on the southwest. It boasts a landmass of 121,400 square kilometers, and a maritime space of 136,000 square kilometers. There're nine district-divided municipalities under its jurisdiction including Fuzhou, Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, Putian, Longyan, Sanming, Nanping and Ningde Municipality, and 85 counties or cities at county level including Kinmen County (currently under Taiwan authority). Its total population stood at 35.81 million by the end of 2007.

　　As the crossroad between the East China Sea and the South China Sea, Fujian is one of the provinces closest to the Southeast Asia, West Asia, East Africa and Oceania, and one of the oldest provinces trading goods with other counties. In South Song and Yuan Dynasty, Quanzhou was one of the largest trading ports in the world, trading with more than 100 countries and regions so that the renowned "Maritime Silk Route" was formed. In modern China, Fujian was a pioneer in adopting the opening up policy. At present, an all-directional, multilevel and wide-ranged opening-up pattern is in place, consisting of special economic zone, export-oriented processing zones, economic and technological development zones, hi-tech parks, bonded areas, Taiwan investment zones, tourist resorts, and coastal open areas. Fujian has secured economic and trade links with over 200 countries and regions, and established sistership with 54 provinces (states) and cities in 26 countries. As an experimental zone for China's comprehensive reform drive, Fujian is going all out to press ahead economic restructuring to foster a market economy.

　　Fujian is blessed with natural resrouces, genius and talents, and cultural heritage. The Tanshishan culture, dating back to over 4,000 years ago, bears marks of ancient maritime civilization. In modern times, Fuzhou and Xiamen were two of the five treaty ports in China open up to foreign countries. Mawei shipbuilding culture was once in glory. Fujian raised remarkable who shape Chinese history such as Zhu Xi the great educator, Song Ci the founder of forensic medicine, Huang Daozhou the calligrapher, Zheng Chenggong (Kosinga) and Lin Zexu the national heroes, Yan Fu the great thinker and translator, Chen Jingrun the mathmaticist, Bing Xin the literaturist, Tan Kah Kee the patriot, etc. Currently 88 academicians in Chinese Academy of Science and Chinese Academy of Engineering, were born in Fujian.

　　Fujian is also a well-known overseas Chinese hometown. Approximately 10.88 million Chinese are of Fujian origin and they are scattered over 160 countries and regions. 530,000 of them are new immigrants. 1.23 million of Hong Kong and Macao people are of Fujian origin. Within the province, there are 120,000 returned overseas Chinese and 6 million people who are close relatives of overseas Chinese. By the end of 2004, direct investment by these overseas Chinese and Hong Kong and Macao people has reached more than USD 30 billion, roughtly 70% of the implemented FDI in Fujian. They have also contributed RMB 10.2 billin to public infrustructure. They are playing an important role in promoting the economic reform and development as well as social progress in Fujian.

　　Fujian lies in the subtropical zone with an agreeable climate. It is one of the four major wooded areas in China with a forest coverage of 62.96%, which is ranked first nationwide. It has a vast maritime space and a long coastline of 3,324 kilometers ranking second in China. Fujian boasts many ports and bays with favorable conditions like Xiamen Bay, Fuzhou Port, Meizhou Bay and Sanduao. In terms of the length of the coastline suitable for berths to dock 100,000 to 300,000 tonnage ship. A major fishery in China, Fujian also boasts an area of 125,000 square kilometers good for fishing farms, ranking second in terms of its gross aquatic products in the country and first in per capita term. It has rich hydropower resources with an exploitable installed capacity of 10.62 million kilowatts, ranking first in East China. Along the coast there are also renewable resources such as the tidal energy and wind power. There are 86 minerals verified in reserve, among which more than 20 kinds are of industrial value. Fujian is also a province rich in local products that are well-knaow at home and abroad, including Fuzhou Shoushan Stone Carving and Bodiless Lacquer Ware, Anxi Tieguanyin Tea, Wuyi Dahongpao Tea, Dehua Chinaware, Hui'an Stone-Carving, and Zhangzhou Narcissus and Pien Tze Huang, etc.

　　The province is facing the sea with mountains at its back. Plants are green through four seasons. Its general index for environmental quality is among the top in China. Fujian is regarded as a province of beautiful mountains and rivers, boasting many national tourist destinations and nature reserves. For example, Wuyi Mountains the World Natural & Cultural Heritage site, Taining Golden Lake the World Geo-Park, Gulang Islet in Xiamen, Matzu Culture in Meizhou Island, Quanzhou Maritime Silk Route Culture, Hakka architectures, Gutian Meeting site in Shanghang County, Tanshishan cultural relic site, riverbed wonder in Ningde, volcanic geo-park in Zhangzhou, etc. Currently, there're 13 national tourist spots, nine national nature reserves, 15 national forest parks, five national geo-parks, two national tourist resorts and 45 cultural units under national protection. The nature reserves, forest parks and tourist spots make up about 8% of the province's land mass. With these and seven national excellent tourist cities, three national garden cities and one national environmentally friend model city, a harmonious environment between mankind and nature is created.

　　In recent years, Fujian has been maintaining a rapid, sound, and healthy economic growth and social development. According to an initial count, in 2007 the provincial GDP reached approximately RMB 916 billion. Per capita GDP was RMB 25,662, financial revenue was RMB 128.43 billion, investment in fixed assets was RMB 432.17 billion, the value of import and export was USD 74.46 billion, rural per capita net income was RMB 5,467, and urban per capita disposable income was RMB 15,505. The energy consumption by per RMB 10,000 GDP was reduced by 3.5% compared to the previous year, the emission of sulfuric dioxide by 1.6%, and COD by 1%, all fulfilling the annual target.

　　Since 2004, the province has been devoting every effort to the development of Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone (WTSEZ). Last November, Fujian unfurled such development strategies as building Three Platforms, the platform to open wider to the world, the platform to enhance regional cooperation nationwide, and the platform to accelerate national reunification, and becoming Two Vanguards, one in carrying out the scientific outlook on development and the other in promoting the cross-Straits communication and cooperation, in a bid to achieve a sound and rapid development in WTSEZ. The Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone is a regional economic complex based in Fujian including the neighboring areas. Bordering the Pearl River Delta on the south and Yangtze River Delta on the north, connecting the hinterland in Jiangxi on the west and Taiwan to the east, it will play a bigger role in accelerating the reunification of the motherland and developing the Chinese economy beyond national border. WTSEZ is currently moving along the line of prosperity, harmony, and a sound growth.

　　（Editor：ShenJiaju）