Top political advisor to attend Straits Forum

BEIJING - Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng will take part in the week-long 9th Straits Forum, starting on June 17 in southeastern Fujian Province, a Chinese mainland spokesman said Wednesday.

Yu is chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Hung Hsiu-chu, chairperson of the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) party, will also attend the event, according to Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Ma said that the forum, featuring over 30 activities, will focus on broadening people-to-people exchanges and deepening integrated development.

"The forum has extended into more fields for communication including culture, education, medical care, laws and industry and commerce, and will hold sub-forums for youth from across the Strait," Ma said.

"This year marks the 30th anniversary since the two sides broke isolation and started people-to-people communication across the Strait," he said, adding that "cross-Strait economic and social integration has become the direction for further cooperation."

More than 8,000 delegates from Taiwan will take part in the forum this year.

According to Ma, a seminar will be held in southern Guangdong Province on July 7 and 8 by the summit for entrepreneurs across the Taiwan Strait to support youth from the island to work and create business on the mainland.

The seminar will cover policy introduction, experience sharing, employment and youth interaction from across the Strait.