Cross-Straits forum kicks off, highlighting cultural exchanges

CHANGSHA, July 11 (Xinhua) -- The fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum kicked off in Changsha, capital of central Hunan Province, on Saturday.

The fifth Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum opens in  Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, July 11, 2009.(Xinhua/Li Ga)

Wu Poh-hsiung, chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) party, said at the opening of the forum that communications, exchanges and integration on the cultural platform play a key role in making further and substantial breakthroughs in mainland-Taiwan relations.

The forum, with its focus on promoting and deepening cross-Straits cultural and educational communications and cooperation, is of historic and practical significance, Wu said.

Wu also called for an expansion of communication and cooperation areas between the mainland and Taiwan and urged people on both sides to cherish the hard-won achievements made in cross-Straits communications.

He urged efforts to work for the welfare and interests of people on both sides and called for new impetus to drive forward the development of cross-Straits relations.