University student leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Straits
pledged to improve cross-Straits relations at a forum in Beijing
yesterday.
Seventy-one students from Taiwan's 32 universities and 93 from
40 mainland universities attended the First Cross-Straits
University Student Leaders Forum that opened in the Great Hall of
the People yesterday.
They're discussing how to develop long-term relationships
between young people on both sides of the water as well as issues
such as inheriting and developing Chinese culture and economic
ties. Cross-Straits relations are also on the agenda of the
students. ?
Lin Kuo-cheng, deputy head of the Youth League of the Kuomintang
(KMT), said it was the first time for Taiwan student leaders to
have direct communication with their mainland counterparts. Mutual
trust across the Straits had been weakened in past years and the
forum is one of the KMT's many efforts to improve relations, Lin
said.
"Cross-Straits relations are now at a turning point and this is
a time for young people?from Taiwan and the mainland?to
do something to contribute to peace and prosperity across the
Straits," Lin added.
Ma Po-chiang, a student from Taiwan's Tamkang University, said
it was his second visit to Beijing in two years. Ma's grandmother
is a Beijinger who moved to Taiwan before 1949.
"It's only when you stand in the Forbidden City that you feel ... the national
pride of being Chinese," Ma said. He said he often visited the
mainland's mainstream websites, such as the Xinhua News Agency, to
understand more about the mainland.
Ma said most of Taiwan's students have a good impression of the
mainland and?are willing to increase exchanges with the
mainland students.
(China Daily August 18, 2006)
