New cross-Strait exchange programs announced

BEIJING, Nov. 3 -- Over 40 cross-Strait exchange programs for 2017 were announced Thursday at the closing ceremony of a forum on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations held in Beijing.

The programs covered various fields, including innovation and entrepreneurship, sports and film.

At the forum, which kicked off on Wednesday and was jointly hosted by 20 non-governmental organizations from across the Taiwan Strait, more than 200 participants from the mainland and Taiwan discussed politics, economy, culture, society and youth.

Attendees called on people from both sides of the Strait to adhere to the 1992 Consensus, which they say is the basis for consolidating political mutual trust across the Strait, oppose "Taiwan independence" and safeguard peace and stability of cross-Strait relations.

Taiwan and the mainland should enhance economic cooperation to address the common challenges faced by the two sides, said discussion participants, urging Taiwan authorities to lift restrictions on mainland investment and take opportunities provided by the Belt and Road Initiative to boost the economy.

The attendees also agreed that people-to-people exchanges across the Strait should be expanded and deepened amid the suspension of communication mechanisms between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.