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, addresses the 17th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

XIAMEN, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The main conference of the 17th Straits Forum was held Sunday in the coastal city of Xiamen in east China's Fujian Province, kicking off a series of events within its framework.

Under the theme of "expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development," the forum features 56 exchange activities covering primary-level, youth, cultural and economic exchanges, drawing the attendance of over 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan.

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 main conference, and emphasized the importance of staying resolute in safeguarding peace across the Taiwan Strait and working together to promote national reunification.

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 Strait. He stressed that the fruits of that victory must be preserved.

Both sides of the Taiwan Strait 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 Strait.

Wang underscored that the mainland will always provide staunch support for Taiwan compatriots and is firmly committed to deepening the integrated development of both sides of the Strait to give Taiwan compatriots a greater sense of gain, happiness and belonging.

Ahead of the main conference, Wang met with guests from Taiwan who are attending the forum.

Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, also attended the main conference and said that the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is a shared aspiration of people on both sides.

Ma expressed hope that, based on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation will be strengthened.

Since its launch in 2009, the forum has featured nearly 800 events, attracting more than 350,000 people from across the Strait, including over 140,000 Taiwan compatriots.

Before this year's forum, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities had escalated their obstruction of cross-Strait exchanges, repeatedly smeared the forum, and sought to intimidate and deter Taiwan compatriots from participating.

Nevertheless, many Taiwan compatriots overcame difficulties to attend the event, demonstrating both their willingness and sense of responsibility to engage in exchanges and cooperation.

"There are so many natural bonds and bridges between people on both sides of the Strait -- they won't be severed by the obstruction of any particular political party," said Yu Chi-hsuan, a young Taiwan participant at the forum, who is with her husband from the eastern Zhejiang Province.

Noting that her mother also traveled from Taiwan to join them at the forum, Yu said that many of her young friends hope to visit the mainland to watch movies like the animated blockbuster "Ne Zha" and check out the trendy toy shops here.

"The forum further opens wide the door for cross-Strait exchanges, and we should walk further down the path of integrated development," said Chiu Ching-ling, a veteran variety show producer from Taiwan. He believes that there will always be friends from Taiwan attending the Straits Forum, and the exchanges will continue to flourish.