CHANGSHA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum kicked off in Changsha, capital of central Hunan Province, on Saturday.

The fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum opens in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, July 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Ga) Photo Gallery>>>

    Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, said at the opening of the forum that communications, exchanges and integration on the cultural platform play a key role in making further and substantial breakthroughs in mainland-Taiwan relations.

Chinese Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung speaks during the opening of the fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, July 11, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Ga) Photo Gallery>>>

    The forum, which focuses on promoting and deepening cross-Straits cultural and educational communications and cooperation, is of historic and practical significance, Wu said.

    Wu also called for an expansion of communication and cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan and urged people on both sides to cherish the hard-won achievements made in cross-Straits relations.

    He urged efforts to work for the welfare and interests of people on both sides and called for new impetus to drive forward the development of cross-Straits relations.

    Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made a speech at the opening ceremony, in which he underlined the importance of Chinese cultural inheritance and complementary collaboration of cultural industries between the mainland and Taiwan.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, makes a speech at the opening ceremony of the fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum in Changsha, capital of central Hunan Province, Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Ga) Photo Gallery>>>

    The development of cross-Straits relations have offered the two sides a better environment to expand cultural and educational cooperation, Jia said.

    He called on people on both sides to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and contribute to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

    Jia said the two sides should maintain their shared Chinese cultural inheritance, cement spiritual ties, strengthen their sense of identity to the Chinese nation, and work together to promote the international influence of the Chinese culture.

    Jia hailed the forum as an important platform for the Communist Party of China (CPC) and KMT to have dialogues, where top leaders of the two parties can express their views.

    But communications and cooperation in the cultural and educational sectors have lagged behind of that of economic sectors and misunderstandings still exist between people on both sides, said Jia.

    Wang Yi, director of the CPC Central Committee Taiwan Work Office, said the forum conforms to the development trend of cross-Straits relations.

    About 530 politicians, businessmen, experts in culture and education sectors participated in the two-day forum, including about 270 from Taiwan.

Chinese mainland announces measures to boost cross-Straits entertainment, educational co-op

    CHANGSHA, July 11(Xinhua) -- Officials from Chinese mainland Saturday pledged to further open its cultural and educational sectors to Taiwan, part of its drive to facilitate cross-Straits exchanges.

    Cai Wu, minister of culture, said in an interview on the sideline of the fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum that cultural authorities were making policies to encourage and benefit the development of Taiwan's entertainment business on the mainland. Full story

Chinese mainland official says cross-Straits forum in line with people's aspirations

    CHANGSHA, July 11(Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official on Saturday said the convening of a cross-Straits forum are in line with the common aspirations of people on the mainland and Taiwan and conforms to the development trend of cross-Straits relations.

    Wang Yi, director of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Taiwan Work Office, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, which kicked off in Changsha, capital of central Hunan Province.  Full story

KMT chairman arrives in mainland for cross-Straits forum

    CHANGSHA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung arrived in the Chinese mainland Friday to attend the Fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum set for July11 and 12 in Changsha, capital of central Hunan Province.

    While receiving Wu's delegation at the airport, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Taiwan Work Office Director Wang Yi said the forum this year would focus on enhancing cultural and educational cooperation, which was agreed upon between Hu Jintao, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, and KMT Chairman Wu in May. Full stroy

Mainland expects to start talking about cross-Strait economic pact after June

Hu Jintao (3rd L), general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung in Beijing, capital of China, on May 26, 2009.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, May 26 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland expects talks about a cross-Strait economic cooperation agreement to start in the latter half of this year, said President Hu Jintao here Tuesday.

    "Both sides should push forwards the preparation work for signing the agreement," said Hu, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, at a meeting with visiting Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung. Full story 

More than 8,000 Taiwanese to attend cross-Strait civil forum on mainland

    BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) -- More than 8,000 Taiwanese people are to attend the first civil forum between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan later this week, Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told reporters Wednesday.

    The forum will run from May 15 to 22 in Xiamen, Fuzhou, Quanzhou and Putian in the southeast province of Fujian. Full story