Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit Highlights Shared Heritage and Promotes Unity
Beijing hosts second Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit, emphasizing shared heritage and cultural confidence across the Taiwan Strait.
The second Cross-Strait Chinese Culture Summit commenced on Wednesday in Beijing, placing a strong focus on the enduring cultural connections that unite people across the Taiwan Straits. The event underscored the importance of cultural confidence and the shared historical roots linking both sides, amid renewed calls to deepen cooperation and mutual understanding.
Song Tao, who leads both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, presided over the opening ceremony. During his keynote address, Song highlighted the essential role of cultural exchange in guiding Taiwan compatriots to protect the broader interests of the Chinese nation. He called for unity among cultural figures from Taiwan and the mainland to bolster cultural confidence, oppose separatist tendencies, and resist external interference. Song emphasized that such efforts are integral to advancing the collective pursuit of national reunification, a cause he described as being tied deeply to the preservation and flourishing of Chinese culture.
Among the distinguished speakers was Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party and current chair of the Taiwan-based Chinese Cyan Geese Peace Education Foundation. Hung stressed the profound shared cultural legacy across the Straits. She proposed a series of initiatives aimed at jointly preserving Chinese literary classics, promoting traditional arts and customs, and developing cross-strait cultural industries. According to Hung, combining time-honored heritage with contemporary creativity can not only enhance the global stature of Chinese culture but also strengthen its international influence and appeal.
The summit agenda included a main forum, during which cultural and academic leaders from both sides delivered keynote speeches on strategies for fostering the development of Chinese culture in the modern era. Topics ranged from safeguarding intangible cultural heritage to leveraging digital innovation for cultural dissemination. Organizers expressed hope that continued dialogue and collaboration will reinforce the foundations of shared identity and pave the way for deeper integration amid evolving cross-strait relations.
