Cross-Straits forum opening June 16 in Fujian

BEIJING - The fourth Straits Forum will be held from June 16 to 22 in Southeast China's Fujian province, Yang Yi, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, announced on Wednesday at a regular press conference.

This year's Straits Forum, the largest annual platform for mainland-Taiwan exchanges, will continue to follow a theme of "expand civilian exchanges, boost cross-Straits cooperation and promote common development."

It will feature cultural and economic exchanges, grassroots interactions and communication among people from all walks of life.

"A stage for civilians" is the essence of this forum, according to Yang.

Special workshops will be held on the sectors of film and music, press and publication as well as martial arts, involving participants including youths, ordinary staff, women and experts from both sides.

Also invited to the forum are a number of representatives from Taiwan's grassroots farmers' and fishermen's associations, congresses of rural citizens, grassroots judicial intermediary organs and community development associations for the first face-to-face communications with their mainland counterparts.

Yang welcomed all people from Taiwan to join in this event including members of the major opposition Democratic Progressive Party of the island, though Yang said the party has become increasingly marginalized in cross-Straits communications for its repeated attempts to turn down normal mainland-Taiwan contacts.