Ninth cross-Straits forum opens in Xiamen
XIAMEN -- The ninth Strait Forum started Saturday in East China's Fujian Province to boost grassroots exchange between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.
During the week-long forum, 21 activities on youth exchange, grassroots communities and trade will be held, as well as 15 parallel activities across the province.
Topics of common concern for people across the Taiwan Straits, including cultural inheritance, employment, entrepreneurship, tourism, health care and vocational education will be covered in the discussions, according to the forum calendar.
The forum will also feature a group wedding for 50 cross-Straits couples and a traditional martial arts competition.
This year marks the 30th anniversary since the two sides started people-to-people communication across the Straits.
Why Xiamen
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Xiamen is one of the most economically competitive cities in China and was one of the first Special Economic Zones on the Chinese mainland. As a vice-provincial city independently listed on the State development plan, it has provincial-level authority in economic administration and local legislative power. In 2010, the Xiamen SEZ was expanded to cover the entire municipality. Today, Xiamen is a modern and international port city.