BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- Forty Taiwan college students started a 10-day visit of mainland Internet enterprises Monday.

The activity was jointly launched by Xinhua's official website spics.org.cn and Taiwan-based Want Want China Times Group, to enhance exchanges between young people across the Taiwan Strait.

The students will visit several enterprises, including online retailer JD, ride-hailing platform Didi, coffee chain Luckin and Xinhuanet.

"The Internet has become a driving force for economic growth on the mainland," said Xinhuanet chairman and president Tian Shubin.

Tian said he hoped the visit would open up opportunities for Taiwan's young people.

"I really look forward to seeing how the amazing Internet ride-hailing industry came into being," said Lin Kunsong, a sophomore from Soochow University in Taipei.

The students are from more than 20 universities, including Taiwan University, Cheng Kung University and Sun Yat-sen University.

The visit has been organized for two years in a row.