Tsai Chihching may have been the happiest man in the world Thursday when 4,000 university students from both sides of the Taiwan Straits sang "Happy Birthday" to him at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Standing centre stage, Tsai, a post-graduate from the Chengchi University of Taiwan, was celebrating his 27th birthday, and two girls were also celebrating theirs.

The students gathered Thursday to watch the show performed by students from both sides of the Straits, the largest joint activity in terms of numbers in the past two decades.

Tsai also received a birthday present with a purple ribbon from Cheng Siwei, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

"It is unbelievable," Tsai said, his hands still trembling after joining Cheng to cut a cake.

"He asked me where I am from and at which university I am studying," Tsai said. "And he said happy birthday to me."

When asked about the birthday present in his hands, Tsai smiled and said, "I hope it's an invitation to the 2008 Olympic Games."

As youngsters like Tsai from Taiwan hope to participate in the Games on the mainland, more are expressing their wish to further their education and find jobs here after graduation.

Gao Yi, 25, a postgraduate student in mainland studies at Taiwan University, said he would pursue a doctorate at Peking University.

Sitting next to Gao, Keh-chin Mao, 26, who is getting his master's degree in material science and engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, is hoping to open a high technology company on the mainland, to tap into its soaring economy and burgeoning business opportunities.

About 2,500 young people from 12 universities in Taiwan took part along with 1,500 students from 15 universities in Beijing. All were dressed in coloured T-shirts, matching the colours of the five Olympic rings.

"See? When we wear these shirts you can't tell who is from Taiwan and who is from the mainland," Gao said. "We're all the same."

Source: China Daily