The week-long Straits Forum that kicked off on Saturday evening was attended by more than 8,000 Taiwan guests. It features 18 activities including a centerpiece conference, a trade fair, a cultural week, a tourism forum and a seminar on traditional Chinese medicine.
![]() |
Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with Chu Li-luan, vice chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeast China's Fujian Province, May 16, 2009 |
He said while receiving these guests in the afternoon that the forum, "a pageant for cross-Straits communication," had enjoyed the largest participation of people from all walks of life in Taiwan and had been the largest event of the kind.
![]() |
Jia Qinglin (3rd L), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with delegates from both sides of the Taiwan Straits to the Straits Forum in Xiamen, a coastal city in southeast China's Fujian Province, May 16, 2009 |
He hopes the forum could be an important platform promoting cross-Straits exchanges and attract more Taiwan compatriots to attend.
Chu Li-lun, the KMT Party vice chairman, said the forum met the demand of people from both sides and development of cross-Straits relations, and that it included varied economic, cultural and folk custom activities.
The forum is co-hosted by Xiamen and three other cities in Fujian, Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Putian.