Latest news with #MaYing-jeou
The Sun
18-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
The 17th Straits Forum Held in Xiamen, China: Promoting Cross-Strait Folk Exchanges and Integrated Development
XIAMEN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 June 2025 - The opening ceremony of the 17th Straits Forum was held in the morning of the 15th in Xiamen City, Fujian Province, China. As the largest-scaled, widest-ranging and most influential folk exchange event across the Taiwan Strait, guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gathered together to discuss the beautiful vision of cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation. This session of the Straits Forum focused on the theme of 'Expanding Folk Exchanges and Deepening Integrated Development'. It set up four major sections, namely grassroots exchanges, youth exchanges, cultural exchanges, and economic exchanges, with 56 series of activities arranged. The main venue of the forum was in Xiamen, while related activities were held in relevant prefecture-level cities in Fujian and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone. More than 7,000 people from all walks of life in Taiwan were invited to participate. Ma Ying-jeou, the former chairperson of the Kuomintang who attends the Straits Forum for the first time, stated in his speech at the meeting that the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the common aspiration of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The natural bond of Chinese people on both sides, who share the same roots and origin, cannot be severed, and non-governmental exchanges across the Strait are unstoppable. Currently, Fujian is steadfastly expanding economic and trade cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, deepening folk exchanges between Fujian and Taiwan, and enhancing the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, so as to make new contributions to the great cause of promoting the reunification of the motherland. Zhou Zuyi, Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, 'We warmly welcome our Taiwan compatriots to actively participate in building the Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. Let us move forward together, work hand in hand, and jointly seize development opportunities to share the fruits of integration' Xiamen has earnestly implemented the Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council on Supporting Fujian in Exploring a New Path for Cross-Strait Integrated Development and Building a Cross-Strait Integrated Development Demonstration Zone. It continues to take the lead in piloting innovations for cross-strait integrated development, promoting integration through connectivity, preferential policies, and emotional bonds, so as to create more development opportunities and broader space for Taiwan compatriots. It is reported that the Straits Forum has been successfully held for 16 sessions, with nearly 800 activities of various types carried out. A total of more than 350,000 person-times of compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait have participated, among whom over 140,000 person-times are Taiwan compatriots. The Straits Forum has effectively played an important role in expanding cross-Strait folk exchanges and deepening cross-Strait integrated development.
NHK
11-06-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Ex-Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou to visit China this month
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou will visit China later this month. He is also former chair of Taiwan's Kuomintang party which takes a more conciliatory stance toward China than the Democratic Progressive Party that currently holds power. Ma's office said on Wednesday that the visit, scheduled from Saturday through June 27, is at the invitation of China. Ma will lead a student delegation to participate in the Straits Forum, which China says is a cross-strait exchange event, in Fujian Province. The delegation is also expected to visit Gansu Province, including Dunhuang, which is famous for monuments of the ancient Silk Road trading route. Ma expressed his willingness to foster cross-strait dialogue and build a bridge of peace between Taiwan and China. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, a spokesperson for China's State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Zhu Fenglian, welcomed Ma's visit. She noted that while current situations surrounding the Taiwan Strait remain complex and tense, bilateral exchanges and cooperation should never be suspended or severed entirely. China is apparently seeking to keep the Taiwanese government of President Lai Ching-te in check through exchanges with Ma.
Straits Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
World Health Organization countries don't invite Taiwan to annual assembly
GENEVA - Member states of the World Health Organization on Monday rejected a proposal to invite Taiwan to its annual assembly in Geneva after China voiced opposition. Belize and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, who are among just 12 remaining countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, spoke on behalf of a group of countries who brought a proposal to include it as an observer in this year's WHO meeting. Saint Vincent described Taiwan's exclusion as "unfair and self-defeating" and Belize's envoy said it "weakens our collective preparedness and response capabilities". No major Western country spoke for Taiwan or signed the proposal, and the United States, which plans to quit the WHO, left its seat empty. But China, which regards the democratically governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and Pakistan opposed the motion and the assembly accepted Taiwan's exclusion. "The proposal openly challenges the authority of the U.N. and the post-war international order," said Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu, who is part of a more than 200-strong Chinese delegation at the meeting. A Chinese Foreign Ministry statement said Taiwanese authorities' "separatist" stance has led to the loss of a political foundation for its participation in the assembly. It denied that there was any gap in pandemic preparedness due to Taiwan's exclusion, calling that a "political lie". Between 2009 and 2016, Taiwan attended WHO assembly sessions as an observer under the administration of then-President Ma Ying-jeou, who signed landmark trade and tourism agreements with China. The question of its participation recurs annually. Taiwan is excluded from most international organisations because of objections by China. A delegation from Taiwan campaigned for its inclusion in this year's WHO assembly and a van has been driving through Geneva with images of bubble tea and the Taipei 101 skyscraper. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
