Fujian, Taiwan commemorate 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration

A commemorative event was held on Saturday in Yong'an City, east China's Fujian Province and Yilan County in China's Taiwan Region simultaneously to mark the newly established Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration.

The event held in Fuxing Bao, a Taiwan-related cultural relic site, compatriots from both sides of the Strait sang the same song together to awaken the shared bloodline, indivisible national identity, and ethnic sentiments.

Representatives from both sides also jointly read a declaration on shared commitment to national rejuvenation, pledging that both sides share the same roots and destiny.

"I believe the trend of cross-Strait youth exchanges and integration is unstoppable. Various forms of exchanges between our young people are already underway and will only grow stronger and further integrated in the future," said Gong Rongrong, head of the United Front Work Department of Sanming University.

Fuxing Bao, formerly a fortress built in mid-Qing Dynasty, got its name, which means "revival" after the Taiwan headquarters of Kuomingtang moved into the fortress in 1943. In 2013 it became a national historic site related to the War against Japanese Aggression.

Eighty representatives from both sides also run together as part of the event.

Yilan County in Taiwan also staged a commemorative event on the same day.

In 1945, the Chinese people won the great victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On October 25 of that year, the ceremony to accept Japan's surrender in Taiwan Province of the China war theater of the Allied powers was held in Taipei. From then on, Taiwan and the Penghu Islands returned to China's sovereign jurisdiction.

The Restoration of Taiwan is crucial and irrefutable evidence of the Chinese government resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Taiwan. It is an important link in the historical fact and legal chain of Taiwan being a part of China, a shared glory for compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and a common national memory for all Chinese people.

The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) designated October 25 as the Commemoration Day of Taiwan's Restoration at its 18th session on Friday.

Fujian, Taiwan commemorate 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration

Fujian, Taiwan commemorate 80th anniversary of Taiwan's restoration

The 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting concluded in east China's Suzhou on Saturday, yielding fruitful results and laying significant groundwork for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November.

The trade ministers' meeting focused on "building an open and predictable regional and multilateral economic and trade order" and "fostering new engines of innovative and dynamic trade and investment cooperation."

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao briefed the media on the meeting's outcomes at a press conference.

Wang said the meeting issued a joint statement titled the Suzhou Statement, and approved the latest edition of the APEC Roadmap for Innovative, Competitive and Resilient Services.

All parties agreed to advance policy innovation and reform in services trade, build an open and predictable investment environment, improve regional trade facilitation and supply chain resilience, strengthen standards coordination, and enhance intellectual property protection, Wang told the media.

He also said that substantial progress was made on a framework document for regional digital trade cooperation and the ministers emphasized promoting inclusive AI development, strengthening AI-related trade, and bridging the digital divide to ensure shared benefits from digital transformation.

The minister noted that the outcomes of the meeting demonstrated strong cooperation willingness, highlighted an innovation-oriented approach, and reflected inclusiveness and shared benefits. "The fact that Asia-Pacific economies can come together, uphold the original aspiration of promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation while supporting economic growth and prosperity, and engage in in-depth discussions on the important issue of 'where multilateral and regional economic and trade cooperation is headed,' fully demonstrates that open regionalism and true multilateralism enjoy broad support, and that mutual success and shared development serve the fundamental interests of all economies," Wang said.

2026 APEC trade ministers' meeting concludes with fruitful results