Some 50 noted figures from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan gathered Tuesday in Xiamen, the coastal city of east China's Fujian province, to discuss cross-straits relations and related issues.
The theme of this year's annual symposium was "carrying forward outstanding Chinese traditional culture, strengthening cross-straits cultural exchange."
Tang Shubei, director of the Cross-Straits Relations Research Center, said at the opening ceremony of the symposium today that Chinese culture, with a long history, is the source of national unity, the spiritual tie and the common treasure of all Chinese. It is the substantial foundation of the reunification of China.
Chinese culture has been built by all Chinese. Taiwan compatriots have contributed tremendously to the development of the Chinese culture, Tang said.
He pointed out that the regional culture in Taiwan has its roots in the Chinese culture, which is just like all the other diversified regional cultures in the mainland. They are all inalienable components of the mother culture, the Chinese culture.
Historical, geological and political factors have added many distinctive attributes to the Taiwan culture. They can only make richer that of its mother culture, Tang stressed.
He extended his confidence in the symposium, which would be a venue to join the efforts and research powers across the Taiwan Straits and demonstrate common and distinctive features of the Chinese culture and its branch culture in Taiwan.
A common culture is the fundamental element in the formation of a nationality. Separatist attempts must come with the intrigue of breaking cultural links and blurring cultural identification, Tang noted.
Taiwan separatists, led by Lee Teng-hui, spare no effort in promoting "one China, one Taiwan," which is meant to cut off the cultural ties between Taiwan and the mainland, he said.
Tang added that the "cultural independence" is just one of the means used by the separatists for "Taiwan Independence." It is used as a forged spiritual and social foundation for separating Taiwan from the motherland.
He called for improved vigilance against the intrigue, emphasizing that there is only one China in the world, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China should not be separated.
Wang Zaixi, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Wang Yifu, vice governor of Fujian Province, attended the symposium Tuesday.
(Xinhua News Agency 06/27/2001)
