CHENGDU, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Cross-Strait Symposium on Jointly Carrying Forward Chinese Culture was successfully convened today at the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Around 100 participants, including renowned cultural scholars and students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, attended the event.

Song Tao, Head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, noted in his address that General Secretary Xi Jinping called on compatriots on both sides of the Strait to strengthen their confidence in Chinese culture during his Beijing meeting with Mr. Ma Ying-jeou in April this year, and during his inspection of Fujian in October, Xi additionally highlighted the necessity of promoting cross-Strait cultural exchanges and jointly carrying forward Chinese culture. The symposium's convening marks a concrete step in implementing the guiding principles from General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches. The rich and profound Chinese culture represents the shared "roots" and "soul" of compatriots on both sides of the Strait, serving as our collective heritage. To jointly carry forward Chinese culture, we need to deepen the cross-Strait cultural bonds and continue the Chinese cultural heritage, stay firmly rooted in Chinese culture and boost confidence in it, assume the responsibility for advancing Chinese cultural initiatives and encouraging innovation within our cultural realm, and promote cross-Strait cultural exchanges to foster the prosperity of Chinese culture. Compatriots on both sides of the Strait should uphold the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference, and together, carry forward Chinese culture, so as to provide a powerful source of inspiration for China's reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, stated in his address that both sides share the same roots and culture. People on both sides belong to the Chinese nation, descendants of Emperor Yan and the Yellow Emperor, sharing Chinese culture. We must not forget our ancestors. Any attempts by the Democratic Progressive Party to promote "de-Sinicization" in Taiwan are bound to fail. It is our responsibility to set things right and safeguard Chinese culture. Young people in Taiwan should remember the origins of the Chinese nation and its culture, as well as the pride of being descendants of Chinese people, and strengthen their emotional connection and identification with Chinese culture.

Renowned cultural scholars from both sides of the Strait, including Gan Lin, Ge Jianxiong, Kang Zhen, Meng Man, Huo Wei, Feng Ming-chu, and Yang Du, explored various perspectives revolving around the central theme of jointly carrying forward Chinese culture, contributed their valuable insights, and engaged in deep dialogue. It was unanimously agreed that compatriots across the Strait share a common historical and cultural heritage, a national bond in heart and mind, and a joint promising future, and thus, it is essential to deepen cross-Strait cultural and people-to-people exchanges, firmly oppose any form of "de-Sinicization" or cultural "Taiwan independence" actions, collaboratively pass on the Chinese national ethos, jointly carry forward Chinese culture, enhance closer bonds of heart and mind between compatriots on both sides, and collectively foster lasting prosperity of the Chinese nation.

The representatives of students from both sides of the Strait shared their views from a youth perspective. They stated that only through Chinese culture can we find roots, and it is these roots that empower us to stand firm and progress far. Cultural exchanges allow youth from both sides of the Strait to learn from and inspire each other, forge profound friendships, and work side by side to jointly promote Chinese culture, thereby injecting new vitality into the fine traditional Chinese culture.

The symposium was co-organized by the Mainland-Based Research Center of Cross-Strait Relations, Sichuan University, and the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation. Prior to the symposium, guests and students from both sides of the Strait visited the Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum, appreciating the profound depth of fine traditional Chinese culture, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility and mission to jointly carry forward Chinese culture.