Source: Xinhua News Agency
Xiamen in winter, green trees and blue sea, warm and undiminished.
In the century-old neighborhood of Jimei Taisha, the ancient charm of the red brick houses in southern Fujian is still there. Over the past week, artists on both sides of the strait have created a number of cleverly conceived graffiti works on these old walls. One of them, titled "A Day Trip to the Straits", shows the scenic spots of Xiamen and Kinmen such as Xiamen Port, "Twin Towers" and Juguang Tower, and the relief carvings are vivid.
On December 10, in the Dashe Cultural and Creative Tourism Block of Jimei District, Xiamen City, the author of the 2021 Straits Forum 3rd Creative Graffiti Grand Prix Excellent Design Award," "Straits Day Trip" (second from the left), introduced the content of the painting to the media. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Kehong
During the 13th Straits Forum, which is being held here, the work won the Good Design Award at the 3rd Creative Graffiti Grand Prix. "Its 'Easter egg' lies in the cross-strait linkage: in Kinmen, there is an identical graffiti." Xu Chenhui, a young man from Fujian and one of the creators, said that he hoped that the two graffiti that echoed each other would become a new attraction in Xiamen.
The creator of the Kinmen section is the local pottery master Wang Mingzong. In 2019, he came to Xiamen to participate in the event, but last year he was prevented from the tour due to the epidemic. After seeing the announcement of the event this year, he took the initiative to apply for remote participation. At Kinmen Sihu Lake, he led five apprentices to paint the same work on the wall of a pottery tourism factory.
"I hope that after the restoration of the 'Mini Three Links', mainland friends can come to Kinmen to visit the attractions in the painting." Wang Mingzong said in a video recorded for the award ceremony of the event.
There are many stories like this that have broken through many obstacles to cross-strait exchanges, and there are many more at this Straits Forum.
The picture shows the exterior view of the venue of the 13th Straits Forum taken on December 11. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan
Overcoming the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the obstruction of the DPP authorities, the 13th Straits Forum kicked off in Fujian on December 10. This indicates that no matter how many interferences and obstacles are encountered, cross-strait nongovernmental exchanges cannot be interrupted, stopped, or reduced; no one can stop the general trend of cross-strait nongovernmental exchanges by forging ahead in the midst of torrential currents and forging ahead in the course of pioneering.
As the most emblematic non-governmental exchange activity between the two sides of the strait, this forum continues the theme of "expanding people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development", combining online and offline, centralized and decentralized, with a total of 41 activities in four major sections of youth exchanges, grass-roots exchanges, cultural exchanges and economic exchanges, and more than 5,000 guests from all walks of life in Taiwan were invited offline.
The picture shows the scene of the 13th Straits Forum conference taken on December 11. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Jiang Kehong
Yu Muming, former chairman of the New Party who attended the forum activities, said in an interview that whether the Straits Forum has been effective or not, and the question should be considered in reverse: If it is useless, why do the DPP authorities always obstruct Taiwan compatriots from coming to the forum? Cross-strait exchanges cannot be stopped or stopped.
Xu Cilian, who is engaged in cultural and media work, made a special trip from the island to attend the last Straits Forum in September last year with dozens of Taiwan compatriots. She still remembers that when she overcame many difficulties, stepped onto the land of the mainland, and stood in front of the background board printed with the words "Straits Forum", she could not help but shed tears, and was excited and moved.
After the event, she has been living in the mainland and is currently planning a cultural tourism homestay project with friends in Wuhan. Coming to the conference for the second time this year, she felt "very warm, like a big party". Here, she met many friends on both sides of the strait, some of whom she had made new friends in the past year, and some of whom she had met during her work trips to and from the two sides of the strait in previous years.
"This year, I stayed with friends, my family was on the island, but I often felt at home." Xu Cilian said, "I think that when we do business on the mainland, we stand on the shoulders of the giants of the motherland of the motherland. ”
Xu Tao, co-founder of Xiaobao Zhigong, delivered a speech at the 13th Straits Forum Conference. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan
"On the mainland, dreams can really be realized." At the forum held on the 11th, Xu Tao, co-founder of Xiaobao Zhigong, said in his speech that Taiwan Youth needs a bigger stage, and the mainland has unlimited opportunities. He encouraged Taiwan youth, whether they choose to come to the mainland in the future or not, to understand the development of the mainland now.
At present, many Taiwan compatriots on the island are very concerned about the opportunities and prospects of the "landing," and this forum has been closely followed by all walks of life on the island, especially the youth group.
"Many of the Taiwanese youthS I have come into contact with hope to understand the channels for the development of the mainland through the Straits Forum." Lin Weijie, a Taiwan compatriot engaged in the cultural and creative design of Taiwan's ethnic minorities, said. For more than three years, he has been committed to extending his company into an employment project to drive the development of Taiwanese youth.
More than two years ago, Lin Weijie encouraged his son, Lin Zihao, who had just graduated from college, to develop in the mainland. "Dad said that the mainland is more developed than Taiwan, and when I came, I found that he was right." Lin Zihao said.
On December 10th, the 19th Straits Youth Forum with the theme of "Symphony of Youth and Rejuvenation of The Common Spectrum" was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan
Youth exchanges are an important part of the Straits Forum and a dynamic area for cross-strait exchanges. At the 19th Straits Youth Forum supporting the forum, 10 Taiwanese youths were awarded the 2021 Fujian Province Taiwan Youth "Entrepreneurship Star", and their entrepreneurial projects received three years of companion counseling and 50,000 yuan of entrepreneurial start-up funds.
Huang Kaijia, the founder of Yunlaiji Cultural Tourism, is one of them. Although she participated in the Straits Forum for the first time after "landing", she has long heard of this big platform. Talking about the development of the global epidemic situation, she said: "The mainland is the first economy in the world to achieve positive economic growth, and I want to come here to start a business. ”
Lin Zonglong, who won this honor two years ago, came to applaud the "Houlang" this time and felt very pleased. "Of course, the Straits Forum must be convened and cannot be interrupted." He said, "I told many young people on the island that they should know more about it now, be prepared, and once they have the opportunity to 'land' and develop, they can seize the opportunity and accumulate a lot of money." ”
On December 11, the actors performed at the 13th Straits Forum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan
This year is a year in which the epidemic is still raging around the world, and it is a year in which cross-strait relations have encountered artificial obstruction. However, this year is also a year of outstanding achievements in the integration and development of the two sides of the strait, and a year in which cross-strait nongovernmental exchanges are brave and courageous, and they are forging ahead in a pioneering spirit.
At the forum, Lin Zheyuan, a Marxist researcher and teacher at East China Normal University, introduced that Taiwan also has a century-old red history, and a group of patriotic and progressive young people who have stepped forward and rose up to resist have emerged. It is hoped that young people on both sides of the strait will work together to strive for the peaceful development of the two sides of the strait and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
"I look forward to more Taiwanese youth studying and working in the mainland, getting rid of the 'being a guest' mentality, caring for society, and going to the masses." Lin Zheyuan said, "In practice, we will spread the objective and true situation on the mainland back to Taiwan. ”
Lin Zheyuan, a Marxist researcher and teacher at East China Normal University, delivered a speech at the 13th Straits Forum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Shanchuan
Eight Fujian good wind weather, winter scenery like spring. The convening of the Straits Forum, whether it is the summer phoenix flowers with enthusiasm or the bright and moving winter kapok, can see the bright beauty of "willow dark flowers and bright flowers", and all bloom with thousands of trees and flowers. (Source: XinhuaNet)