The annual Straits Forum is a grand gathering of people-to-people exchanges that is deeply recognized by compatriots on both sides of the strait. Since its inception, it has attracted more than 100,000 Taiwan compatriots to participate, most of whom come from the grass-roots and non-governmental organizations.
In Xiamen in early December, the sea breeze, the sound of the waves, and the swaying of the bougainvillea greeted the guests from all over the world. As the largest cross-strait exchange activity of the year, the 13th Straits Forum was held in Xiamen, Fujian Province on December 10. Despite the impact of the epidemic and artificial obstruction on the island, Taiwan compatriots who are willing to work together with the mainland of the motherland to develop and integrate and advance actively participated in the meeting online and offline.
"We have the ability to make the Chinese nation, which has suffered a lot of disasters, usher in a great leap from standing up and getting rich to becoming strong, so that the mainland of the motherland, which is poor and white, and has a large population, can build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way, and of course we have the ability to let the Taiwan compatriots live a better life." The speech delivered by Wang Yang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, expressed the confidence of the CPC in victory, the rocky will of the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation, and the common aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the strait.
What do the people of Taiwan want? "Be peaceful, develop, and live a good life." The most simple wish is the most powerful source of motivation for the integration and development of the two sides of the strait and toward reunification.
In the past thirteen years, more and more grassroots people and aspiring young people in Taiwan have told the story of integration and shared the joy of growth at the Straits Forum. Among them, there are many young people in Taiwan who are developing peacefully and living a good life on the mainland. There is Fan Jiangfeng, who calls for "going home is no need for a reason", Zhang Xinyi, who humorously prides himself on being a "new villager in Fujian who holds a planning and design drawing", Yang Pinhua, who proudly sings "I am from a Taiwanese tribe, I am a proud Chinese", and Lin Zheyuan, who has a burning words "I am a Marxist researcher"... Their speeches, with the warmth of the sun, wrapped in the breath of the earth, permeated with the fragrance of growth.
Rooted in the ground, the root of blood is also the root of development
Li Shengfeng, vice chairman of the New Party who attended the forum, paid attention to the development of young people on both sides of the strait. He said: "When looking at cross-strait relations, especially Fujian and Taiwan, we should not only look at the roots of blood relations, but also look at the roots of development." ”
Three hundred years ago, Li Shengfeng's ancestors crossed the black water ditch of "ten to six deaths, three deaths, and one turn" from Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, to Taiwan to seek development. "Our ancestors risked their lives to travel far and wide, because it was not easy to survive in their homeland." Today, many young people in Taiwan have returned to Fujian in order to seek development. Li Shengfeng said: "For decades, Fujian has developed rapidly, and its GDP has surpassed that of Taiwan. Many young Taiwanese have returned to their hometowns. Li Shengfeng angrily criticized, "Instead of reflecting on the chaos of their own administration and disappointing the people, the DPP authorities have intimidated those who seek survival and left their hometowns, turning a blind eye to the mainland's goodwill and smearing and distorting them." ”
The general trend of cross-strait exchanges and cooperation is unstoppable, and the willingness of compatriots to get closer to their relatives cannot be violated. The anti-intellectualism and manipulation of the DPP authorities cannot stop the development aspirations of the Taiwan compatriots.
Fan Jiangfeng, a Hakka family born in Taiwan, was commissioned by the company in 2009 to work from Taipei to Xiamen. At that time, the first Straits Forum was held, setting up a "bridge of connecting hearts" between the two sides of the strait to share nostalgia. Fan Jiangfeng would not have thought that he would start a business later, and also develop with mainland partners, let alone that he would win the first "Entrepreneurship Star" of Taiwan Youth in Fujian Province, the first provincial "May Fourth Youth Medal" in the mainland, and the project was rated as a national-level Taiwan Youth Entrepreneurship Demonstration Base.
In 2019, as a "venture ferryman", he spoke at the 11th Straits Forum. At this year's Straits Youth Forum, he once again took the stage to share the story of Zhuzi culture empowering rural revitalization with Lei Xiying, a young man from the mainland.
Fan Jiangfeng (left) and Lei Xiying (right)
Good brothers on both sides of the strait, together to break into the countryside and create. Lei Xiying said the secret of cooperation is simple - be honest with each other. Lei Xiying said: "The mainland of the motherland must be the fertile land for the most kind treatment of Taiwanese youth, and we have the broadest market and the greatest potential to accept the creativity and struggle of Taiwanese youth." ”
If the root of blood kinship holds the hands of compatriots on both sides of the strait, then the root of integrated development can better gather the hearts of compatriots on both sides of the strait. The mainland, especially Fujian, has continuously introduced favorable policies to allow more and more young people in Taiwan to take root and integrate with the youth of the mainland.
Grow toward the sun, embrace the fusion, and the flowers bloom
Huang Zhixian, a veteran Taiwan media personality who participated in this year's cross-strait new media development forum, used the metaphor of "blossoming" to cross-strait integration: "When the time comes and the temperature arrives, the flowers will bloom and the butterflies will come." We just want to brew temperature, time, and let the flowers bloom. Cross-strait integration lies in mutual understanding, mutual fulfillment, and finally embracing. ”
In June 2019, Huang Zhixian attended the Straits Forum for the first time, saying, "Our generation wants to bring Taiwan home." After two years, Huang Zhixian saw, "Taiwan compatriots have come across the sea, from the beginning of Taiwan to the end of Taiwan, to the mainland to meet and communicate frankly." She pointed out, "Our feelings are too hurtful to 'Taiwan independence,' so the DPP authorities are very bitter and threaten you not to come." In the past two years, the DPP has done too many things to hurt the feelings of the two sides of the strait. ”
However, the mainland has always been committed to promoting the peaceful development and integrated development of cross-strait relations and improving the system and policies to ensure the well-being of Taiwan compatriots and the equal treatment on the mainland. The anti-intellectualism and manipulation of the DPP authorities cannot prevent Taiwan compatriots from coming to the mainland to pursue, build, and fulfill their dreams.
The 2021 Fujian "101 Taiwan Youth Entrepreneurship Support Plan" and the Fujian Province Taiwan Youth "Entrepreneurship Star" were unveiled at the Straits Youth Forum, and Huang Kaijia, who came to Xiamen for a year of development, won the "Entrepreneurial Star" trophy in the mouth of entrepreneurial predecessors.
In 2020, when the epidemic pressed the "pause button" on life, Huang Kaijia bravely pressed the "acceleration button" for his own entrepreneurship, and simply and neatly ended the Japanese tour guide work appointed by Taiwan travel agencies and rushed to the long-awaited mainland. After visiting many cities, she is determined to settle in Xiamen and use the "Internet +" outlet to do the "online cultural tourism" business.
This time to get the affirmation of the "entrepreneurial star", Huang Kaijia said excitedly, "I am a first-time family, the first time to start a business, with feelings." I hope to carry forward Chinese culture and tell the story of the two sides of the strait well. The 'Entrepreneurship Star' recognition has given me more confidence in my development. ”
Over the years, the young people in Taiwan have been like saplings that have grown vigorously, taking root and landing on the mainland, blossoming to the sun, and the more solid the rhizomes, the more luxuriant the branches. As recorders, we have listened to their dreams of the sea and the sky, accompanied their efforts to wear the stars and the moon, and witnessed their achievements in overcoming thorns and thorns. Seeing them standing on the stage of the Straits Forum and the Straits Youth Forum, sharing their goals, dreams, and growth and transformation, you will involuntarily smile and send blessings from the bottom of your heart.
Yu Muming, founder of Taiwan's New Party, said, "My lifelong dream: China stands up, gets rich, becomes strong, and wants to be an upright Chinese." ”
Now, we have realized this dream. We hope that 23 million Taiwan compatriots will take the proud posture of upright Chinese, take root in the soil, turn their hearts to the sun, embrace integration, develop hand in hand, and jointly rush to the road of realizing the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the Chinese dream.
Producer / Ren Yongwei
Editor-in-Chief / Bo Hao
Duty Editor / Xie Chao
Reporter / Liang Xiaolei
Proofreading / Xie Zhiguo