The 17th Straits Forum kicks off on June 15, 2025 in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province. Photo: VCG

The 17th Straits Forum kicked off Sunday in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province, with over 7,000 participants from various sectors on the island of Taiwan, including former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou, who led a delegation of Taiwan youth to attend. 

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the event and delivered a speech, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday.

Wang noted that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the recovery of Taiwan - a shared national memory for people on both sides of the Straits. He stressed that the fruits of that victory must be preserved.

Both sides of the Taiwan Straits belong to one China, he said, emphasizing the importance of upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus. He called for resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference to jointly safeguard peace and stability of the Straits.

Before the forum began, Wang met with representatives of the Taiwan guests attending the forum, according to Xinhua.

Ma, in his speech at the forum, emphasized that communication is key to the development of cross-Straits relations, and that the youth represent the future hope for both sides. He stated that only through continuous exchanges can misunderstandings and hostility between the people on both sides be effectively reduced, Chinanews.com reported Sunday.

As part of the 17th Straits Forum, the 23rd Straits Youth Forum opens in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province on June 15, 2025. Photo: VCG

Ma acknowledged that while there are many challenges facing the development of cross-Straits relations today, the emotions and exchanges between the people on both sides cannot be interrupted. No political force can stop the sincere interactions between the people, nor can it sever the natural feelings of kinship shared by Chinese people across the Straits, Ma said.

Only by deepening cooperation and seeking a shared future on the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" can we create a peaceful and mutually beneficial situation across the Straits. "This is the direction we must continue to strive for," said Ma.

Visiting Xiamen for the first time, Ma described his feelings as a mix of "excitement" and "familiarity." "Whether in language, customs, cuisine or the warmth of human interactions, we can feel the resonance between Taiwan and Fujian, and experience the connections across the Straits," he said, noting that the historical ties between Fujian and Taiwan are a shared legacy that both sides should work together to protect.

Ma pointed out that after gaining a better understanding of the current situation and development in the mainland, an increasing number of young people from the island of Taiwan are interested in studying, interning and working there, eager to carve out their own paths.

On Saturday, Ma set off on his fourth visit to the Chinese mainland since leaving office, leading a group of young visitors from the island of Taiwan to Fujian and Gansu provinces from June 14 to 27, Cankaoxiaoxi, a newspaper under the Xinhua News Agency, reported on Saturday, citing Taiwan media.

Continuing the theme of expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development across the Taiwan Straits, this year's Straits Forum features a main forum event along with four major sections - grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges and economic exchanges, comprising a total of 56 activities, CCTV reported Sunday. The main venue for the forum is located in Xiamen, with concentrated activities taking place over the course of a week, according to the report.

For instance, the Mazu Cultural Activity Week comprises seven sub-events, including a Mazu culture study camp for teachers and students from both sides, attracting thousands of participants from Taiwan, Xinhua reported on Saturday. Worship of the Chinese sea goddess, Mazu, is a folk custom prevalent along China's southeastern coast.

According to Xinhua on Saturday, the Taiwan talent conference held in Xiamen this year saw participation from nearly 100 employers, policy consulting agencies and a large number of Taiwan compatriots, with youth making up about 80 percent of the attendees, providing ample opportunities for Taiwan youth to seek employment and entrepreneurship on the mainland.

"The Straits Forum serves as a grassroots and civilian channel for cross-Straits exchanges, emphasizing its grassroots nature, inclusiveness and broad participation, which plays an irreplaceable role in promoting exchanges across the Straits," Zhang Wensheng, a deputy dean and a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Sunday.

Under pressure exerted by the DPP authorities on cross-Straits exchanges, Ma's attendance at the Straits Forum is "significant" and "groundbreaking," Zhang said.

His participation in the forum and his visit to the mainland will allow more people in Taiwan to recognize the positive effects of cross-Straits exchanges, encouraging greater engagement among the Taiwan public, the expert believes.