Cross-Strait Youth Summit Opens in Beijing, Lien Sheng-wu and Chang Rong-kung Deliver Speeches

(CNA reporter Chang Shu-ling Beijing, July 2nd) The "2026 Cross-Strait Youth Summit" opened in Beijing today. Lien Sheng-wu, CEO of the Cross-Strait Peace Development Foundation, said in his opening speech that the most precious aspect of exchange is giving each other the opportunity to transcend imagination and labels. KMT Vice Chairman Chang Rong-kung stated that these cross-strait exchange activities are the mainstays for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

The "Cross-Strait Youth Summit" has been held in Beijing since 2018. At today's opening ceremony, speakers included Song Tao, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Lien Sheng-wu, Chairman of the KMT Youth Development Committee and CEO of the Cross-Strait Peace Development Foundation; Xu Qingming, Vice Minister of Education of China; A Dong, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League; Chang Rong-kung, Vice Chairman of the KMT; and Yin Li, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC.

Lien Sheng-wu is attending the Cross-Strait Youth Summit for the second time. He emphasized the significance of getting to know each other through interaction, stating that a street dance can sometimes bring people closer than a speech, and a dragon boat race can build more rapport than ten commentary articles.

In late May this year, Lien Sheng-wu led more than 20 young Taiwanese to Jiuquan to watch the launch of the Shenzhou 23 manned spacecraft, which sparked online discussions and some criticism. He used this as an example, saying that many things, if understood only through the internet or fragmented information, can easily lead to one-sided impressions. However, the most precious part of exchange is giving each other the opportunity to "transcend imagination and transcend labels."

Chang Rong-kung said he has visited Beijing multiple times this year and believes that these numerous cross-strait exchange activities are the mainstays for maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

He said that contemporary cross-strait youth are the most educated generation in the history of the Chinese nation, with the deepest understanding of the world, the strongest vitality and creativity, and the best ability to use technology to develop their strengths. They have a greater responsibility to jointly promote a peaceful environment in the Taiwan Strait.

Song Tao, in his speech, urged cross-strait youth to "set great aspirations, understand great righteousness, and walk the great path," and stated that the mainland will continuously improve its policies and measures to create more convenient conditions for Taiwanese youth to develop in the mainland.

Xu Qingming said that China's Ministry of Education supports actively carrying out exchanges between young students across the Strait, and has organized a series of activities in recent years such as the Cross-Strait University Student Dragon Boat Race and the Northern Scenery Winter Camp. This summit covers more than 20 exchange and study camps held in Beijing, providing a stage for cross-strait youth exchanges and interactions.

Yin Li mentioned in his speech that there are over 10,000 Taiwanese youth in Beijing and more than 2,000 Taiwanese students in Beijing. Beijing will implement 10 measures to promote cross-strait exchange and cooperation, continue to organize youth and cultural summits, and events like "Kaohsiung. Beijing Specialty Week," strengthen exchanges in culture, tourism, film and television, and support mutual visits between universities and organizations in Beijing and Taiwan. (Editor: Chou Hui-ying) 1150702

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