The opening ceremony of the 23rd Straits Youth Forum, a sub-forum of the 17th Straits Forum, was held Sunday afternoon in Xiamen, in east China's Fujian Province, just a stone's throw from Taiwan.
During the keynote forum, participants from both sides of the Taiwan Strait engaged in interactive exchanges, highlighting the achievements of youth integration and development across various fields.
Among the featured events, creative teams behind popular blockbusters such as “Ne Zha 2” and "30,000 Miles from Chang'an" shared their creative process with young people from both sides of the Strait.
Taiwanese actor Lee Luo voiced Li Bai in the Minnan dialect version of the animated blockbuster "30,000 Miles from Chang'an" and showcased his dubbing skills on stage during the forum.
"I am very aware of where we come from, even though I was born in Taiwan. I hope there will be more opportunities for cross-Strait cooperation, and that we can continue to improve and encourage each other in various areas, including film and television. That would be the best," said Lee.
"Many of my friends in Taiwan are quite enthusiastic about these films [produced in the mainland]. I think the cultural confidence brought by the traditions of the Chinese nation is something to be proud of. It also truly reflects the emotional connection we share due to our common roots and origins," said Taiwanese youth Chang Chao-jui.
"I was deeply impressed by a scene in “Ne Zha 2” where Ne Zha breaks the cauldron. This moment encourages young people to bravely seek the truth. Sometimes, what we see may not be the real truth. By stepping out, especially for young people from Taiwan visiting the mainland, one may discover more about the future and find greater opportunities," said Chang Chih-hung, another Taiwanese youth.
Last year, a documentary titled "Golden Letters' Journey Home," produced by a team with members from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, became a hit and touched the hearts of thousands of viewers. One of the people involved in the production, Taiwanese youth Chang Chun-kai, also shared his family’s story at the forum.
"I think that in Taiwan's society, or in the hearts of the people in Taiwan, there has always been a deep yearning to seek their roots and reconnect with their origins," he said.
"In elementary school in Taiwan, we had something called a family contact book, which included a section for place of origin. We wrote 'Fujian' there. So I hope more young people in Taiwan can understand that our true roots are here," said Li Chih-chang, an architect from Taiwan who participated in the construction of a memorial hall in Fujian about a local family's migration to Taiwan.
Since its establishment in 2003, the Straits Youth Forum has served as a bridge connecting the vibrant youth from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Through meaningful dialogue and cooperation, young people have shown that no obstacles can weaken their bonds of kinship or the shared pursuit of development. Working hand in hand has become the common choice of youth on both sides, in step with the momentum of history.
The main conference of the 17th Straits Forum opened on Sunday in Xiamen with a focus on expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development across the Taiwan Strait.
More than 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan have been invited to participate in the event. Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, also led a delegation of young people from Taiwan to attend the forum.
Youth sub-forum of 17th Straits Forum held in Xiamen
