BEIJING, May 25 -- The eighth Cross-Strait Forum, which is scheduled to begin June 11 in east China's Fujian Province, will aim to boost people-to-people exchanges and integrated development between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
During the forum, activities will be held on topics of common concern for youth across the Taiwan Strait, including employment, entrepreneurship and public services, said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference on Wednesday.
According to Ma, this year's forum will include sessions featuring dialogues between famous young entrepreneurs from both sides and recruitment targeting Taiwan professionals, which will serve as a platform for Taiwan youth seeking jobs in Fujian.
Topics about the Belt and Road Initiative, free trade zone, think tanks and financial issues will also be covered in the forum to help people share development opportunities across the Strait, Ma added.
At the press conference, Ma stressed that only affirmation of the political foundation that stresses the one China principle can ensure achievements of institutionalized exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would not be affected.
With the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, cross-Strait affairs authorities from the two sides have signed 23 agreements since 2008, when a regular communication mechanism was established, facilitating cross-Strait cooperation in all areas and benefiting people from both sides, said Ma.
Ma said the mainland's protection of the legitimate interests and rights of Taiwan businesses is clear and consistent, and will not be changed.
According to Ma, an alert recently issued by a mainland quality watchdog on tightening quarantine measures against citrus fruit from Taiwan was aimed at safeguarding the environment and agricultural production on the mainland.
