The fifth Cross-strait Public Welfare Forum, an important event for the grass root communication of the ninth Strait Forum, was held in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province on June 17. Representatives of over 70 public welfare institutions from both sides of the Taiwan Strait got together once again, joining hands to bring benefits to people across the Strait. They shared ideas and experience in public welfare at two sub-forums, as well as worked together to promote cooperation between Chinese mainland and Taiwan in public welfare areas.
The forum is held in Xiamen, Fujian Province.
The forum was hosted by the China Soong Ching-ling Foundation, Central Social Development and Services Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, Taiwan Association for the Promotion of Chinese Culture, Teacher Chang Foundation, Taiwan Huaxia Culture Exchange Association, Taiwan Ten Outstanding Young Persons Foundation, Taiwan Soka Association and Hong Kong Volunteer Alliance. Long Mingbiao, Deputy Director of Taiwan Office of the CPC Central Committee and State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Xue Weimin, Vice Chairman of Fujian Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference and Head of Fujian Provincial Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, CSLCF Vice Standing Chairman Hang Yuanxiang, founding chairman of Teacher Chang Foundation and deputy secretary-general of Hong Kong Volunteer Alliance attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. The ceremony was hosted by Yan Xiaopei, member of the NPC Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of China Zhi Gong Party. Altogether over 300 representatives of public welfare organizations, academic experts, grass-root public welfare people, entrepreneurs and media across the strait attended the ceremony.
Long Mingbiao, Deputy Director of Taiwan Office of the CPC Central Committee and State Council, made remarks.
Yan Xiaopei, member of the NPC Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of China Zhi Gong Party hosted the opening ceremony.
Xue Weimin, Vice Chairman of Fujian Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference and Head of Fujian Provincial Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, gave welcome speech.
CSCLF Vice Standing Chairman Hang Yuanxiang delivered a speech.
Dr. Li Zhonggui, Founding Chairman of Teacher Chang Foundation, made remarks.
Wu Jianfang, deputy secretary-general of Hong Kong Volunteer Alliance, made remarks.
Long Mingbiao, Deputy Director of Taiwan Office of the CPC Central Committee and State Council, said, “People from both sides of the Strait helped each other when faced with natural disasters, which will be remembered forever. Our mutual aid exemplifies the excellent Chinese traditional virtues and enables us to overcome difficulties.” Nowadays, many people from the mainland and Taiwan are quietly making contribution to public welfare, regardless of their differences in ideology and political views. Over the past five years, public welfare groups and organizations across the Strait have been holding the forum, setting up a platform for exchange between institutions, groups and individuals committed to public welfare from both sides of the Strait. He stressed that mainland and Taiwan people are a family sharing the same origin. Promoting cross-Strait exchange and economic and social integration and development is a common aspiration of the two peoples. Long said any efforts to realize the aspiration will be strongly supported as always. “No matter how the situation across the Taiwan Strait changes, we will firmly stick to the 1992 consensus and be determined to support and encourage people-to-people exchange and cooperation across the Strait,” he added.
Xue Weimin, Vice Chairman of Fujian Provincial People's Political Consultative Conference and Head of Fujian Provincial Committee of China Zhi Gong Party, Fujian provincial Party committee and government have long valued public welfare. With a theme of “Public Welfare and Chinese Dream”, the fifth Cross-Strait Public Welfare Forum invited elites from public welfare areas to share their experience and achievements in order to offer better services to mainland and Taiwan people. Xue said he believed that progress made by the forum was bound to make new contribution to targeted poverty alleviation in Fujian.
CSCLF Vice Standing Chairman Hang Yuanxiang noted the guiding principle of the forum - benefit Chinese people across the Strait through public welfare cooperation – reflects the common pursuit of people committed to public welfare from both mainland and Taiwan. Hang said, “We should continue to strengthen ties between mainland and Taiwan people, attract more young people to take part in the forum and further improve cross-Strait cooperation in public welfare.”
The Cross-strait Public Welfare Forum has been on the agenda of the Strait Forum since 2013. It serves as an important platform to promote communication, exchange, cooperation and friendship across the Strait. Over the past four years, mainland and Taiwan have deepened exchange in public welfare ideas and enhanced cooperation in public welfare projects. The Cross-Strait Public Welfare Forum demonstrates its growing cohesive force. It now has eight organizers and 27 co-organizers. Over 1,500 guests from mainland and Taiwan have attended the forum. In addition, public welfare organizations across the Strait have jointly participated in many activities serving the public good thanks to the forum. They now play a unique role in cross-Strait cooperation and communication.
(Source: General Office)
(Photos: Zhang Yuxiang and Liu Caihua)
