Sub-forum themed on women of 17th Straits Forum held in Xiamen

A sub-forum themed on women of the 17th Straits Forum was held in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, on Sunday.

Women from all walks of life on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and in Hong Kong and Macao attended the meeting to share their stories on social participation, economic and trade exchanges, and mutual friendship. Joanna Lei, chairwoman of Taiwan Women's League, said since the year of 1995, women on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have carried out cooperation in many specific events, including innovation and entrepreneurship, community care, public childcare, and employment security.

"We have been discussing since the 1990s, and have maintained such a long-lasting friendship to this day. At this sub-forum, participants address each other as sisters, which can be rarely seen at other forums. The most genuine and profound friendship form the foundation for future cooperation, which is the most distinctive feature of this sub-forum," she said.

As brand manager of a mainland sports brand in Fujian Province, Peng Ouya expressed her hope to promote the interaction between talents on both sides via cultural and sports exchanges.

"I have a basketball team, the first of its kind in the country that gathers women from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It was established in 2020, for the reason that young women and basketball enthusiasts from both sides of the Strait could come to Xiamen to have more social interactions through basketball matches, which makes them feel at home here. Our new plan for the future is to go to places other than Xiamen and Fujian, or go to Taiwan -- for example, go to Kinmen at first -- to have some friendly matches for exchanges and interactions," said Peng Ouya, organizer of Girlpower, a women's basketball team for cross-Strait friendship.

Data shows that in the past year, tens of thousands of young women from both sides have actively participated in the Cross-Strait Women College Students' Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, and 12 projects of Taiwan youth have taken root in mainland's industrial parks.

Sub-forum themed on women of 17th Straits Forum held in Xiamen

More than 20 films will hit Chinese screens during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday from Saturday to Monday, spanning genres from revolutionary historical dramas, realism movies to suspense thrillers, according to the China Film Administration on Thursday.

Revolutionary historical films such as Blood-Spattered Cliff, Eight Sons, Eight Soldiers, and Half Of The Quilt, will pay tribute to martyrs through the lens.

Three films -- It's OK, Now I Met Her, and Sunshine Women's Choir -- tell moving stories of love, growth, and reconciliation.

It's OK is a contemporary family comedy that follows a mother and daughter navigating their joyful yet turbulent relationship. Now I Met Her tells a rebellious teenager who gets to know his late mother through her old diary. Sunshine Women's Choir, a film from the Taiwan region of China, portrays the "perfect" maternal love of "imperfect mothers."

The suspense film Game of Identity tells the story of two people from different backgrounds who accidentally swap lives, setting off an unexpected adventure. The documentary films Seeking Nature: The Code of Life, and Missions to the Moon (Part One) explore the connection between humanity and science.

Imported films from different countries, including The Super Mario Bros. Movie 2, Project Hail Mary, and Hoppers, will deliver spectacular cinematic experiences to audiences.

The Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Day, falls on April 5 this year. It is a traditional Chinese festival for honoring the deceased and paying tribute to ancestors. The holiday also provides a short break for Chinese citizens as they engage in outdoor activities and sightseeing.

Over 20 films expected to hit Chinese screens during Qingming Festival Holiday