Straits Forum to foster cross-Strait exchanges

The 18th Straits Forum is set to take place in Fujian province in mid-June, with the main conference scheduled for June 13, a mainland spokeswoman announced on Wednesday.

Zhu Fenglian, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, stated at a regular press conference that the forum's main venue will be in Xiamen, with related activities also occurring in other cities across Fujian and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone.

Recognized as the largest annual grassroots exchange event across the Taiwan Strait, the Straits Forum will continue to focus on expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development.

This year's forum will feature 58 activities across four major categories: grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic exchanges.

Invitations have been extended to representatives from political parties in Taiwan and individuals from various sectors, including labor unions, youth and women's groups, folk religious organizations, as well as the agriculture, fisheries, water conservancy, culture and tourism, healthcare, industry, commerce, and finance sectors. Zhu added that preparatory work for the forum is progressing steadily and smoothly.