In the Southeastern port city of Xiamen, Fujian province, the 7th Straits Forum is underway. Topics at this years' forum cover the Belt and Road initiative, free trade zone, Internet and ecological development. The week-long event also features an array of activities on grassroots exchanges between Taiwan and the mainland.
Photo taken on June 14, 2015 shows the scene at the 7th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. The seventh Straits Forum, the largest annual event for cross-Strait exchanges, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
The digital Paper Shoot camera is made only with a paper cover and a circuit board. Its inventor, George Lin from Taiwan, is entering it in the Cross-Strait Innovation Competition. A first timer, he says it offers a great opportunity to exchange ideas with mainland inventors.
"There are many differences in terms of the market and customs between Taiwan and the Mainland. And I was really surprised to see the array of innovative products from Mainland makers," Lin said.
Aside from this competition, 17 other similar activities are to be held in the following days.
In another big move to promote exchange, China's top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng announced Sunday that Taiwan residents will no longer need travel permits to visit the Mainland.
"We will continue to create more preferential policies to encourage cross-Strait exchange, including lifting the entry permit requirement for Taiwan residents, and recognizing Taiwan ID cards," Yu said.
Photo taken on June 14, 2015 shows the scene at the 7th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province. The seventh Straits Forum, the largest annual event for cross-Strait exchanges, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
Also at the forum, Vice Chairman of the Kuomintang party in Taiwan, Hau Lung-pin addressed the importance of mutual understanding.
"We all agree that people-to-people exchange is the most important among all the cross-Strait exchanges. Through communication and understanding, we can build a more stable and peaceful relationship across the straits. This forum is the best platform for communication," Hau said.
Since 2009, this annual event has become the largest non-official platform held between the two sides.
Interaction at the grassroots level has always been an essential part of the forum. The week-long event features activities?covering youth exchanges, technology and cultural integration?hoped to further improve the understanding between the Mainland and Taiwan.
