Taiwan youth seek more interactions with mainland compatriots

Young people from Taiwan attending an annual cross-Strait youth activity in Beijing expressed warm willingness for more exchanges and interactions with their mainland counterparts.

About 600 people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended the 2024 Cross-Strait Youth Summit held from Wednesday to Friday. The summit included forums, internship and employment session for Taiwan youth, as well as music and leisure activities.

Yin Li, secretary of the Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee, said at the main forum that exchanges and cooperation between Beijing and Taiwan in various fields have been deepening, which are not only conducive to the development of young people, but also to economies on both sides of the Strait.

It is hoped that young people on both sides can contribute to cross-Strait exchanges and peaceful reunification of the two sides, he said.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, called on the younger generations on both sides to firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and safeguard the common homeland of the Chinese nation.

Chen Ke-wei, vice-chairman of the Organization and Development Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, said the mainland market is very attractive to Taiwan youth, and it's important for young people from both sides to get closer in the process of living together.

Yang Pin-hua, a singer from an ethnic group in Taiwan, sang a number of songs at the opening ceremony and digital music night.

The music festivals, bazaars and other activities integrated into the summit are closer to the needs of Taiwan's young people, he said, adding that "Such warm interactions can help them let go of their preconceived notions, and become 'brothers' with young people in the mainland."

Wu Yu-hsuan, chairwoman of Taiwan Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Association, said more platforms for young people from both sides to communicate are needed to narrow the information gap.

Lin Pei-chen, a junior at Taiwan Ocean University who enjoys travel and food on mainland, said, "Only those who have not visited the mainland personally will feel afraid."

She said she believes that cross-Strait youth can work together to create a different tomorrow by learning from each other and making progress together.

Since the summit's inception, the annual event has organized more than 150 exchange activities, attracting the participation of more than 6,000 young people. It has become an important platform for cross-Strait youth exchange.

Wang Qiaozhi contributed to this story.