In Xiamen City, southeast China’s Fujian Province, Song Tao, the Chinese mainland’s senior Taiwan affairs official, met on Monday with Wang Jin-pyng, former leader of the Taiwan region’s legislature.
Wang is visiting the mainland until Thursday to pay respects to his ancestors and participate in cross-Strait exchanges. His visit underscores ongoing efforts to enhance cultural connections and mutual understanding between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait.
During the meeting, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, emphasized the mainland’s commitment to upholding the one-China principle and firmly opposing any separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence.” He expressed a desire to advance national reunification and jointly achieve national rejuvenation with compatriots across the Strait.
Wang Jin-pyng urged for increased cross-Strait cultural exchanges, highlighting the importance of jointly carrying forward Chinese culture. He stressed that enhancing national and cultural identity among compatriots and maintaining peace across the Strait are essential steps toward mutual prosperity.
During his visit to Baijiao village in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province, Wang paid homage to his ancestors. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with mainland compatriots to achieve sustainable development and help the people of the Chinese nation lead happy and safe lives.
Historical ties bind Wang to the mainland, as one of his ancestors from Baijiao is believed to have participated in the 1660s expedition led by Zheng Chenggong to recover Taiwan, subsequently settling on the island. Wang had previously visited Baijiao in 2019 to honor his ancestry, accompanied by his immediate family and relatives.
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Mainland official meets with former leader of Taiwan's legislature
cgtn.com
