This photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows the scene of the 15th Straits Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian province. The 15th Straits Forum kicked off in Xiamen Saturday. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

People from Taiwan said the congratulatory letter from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, has boosted their confidence in the integrated and peaceful development across the Taiwan Strait.

In the letter sent to the 15th Straits Forum, a large cross-Strait exchange event held in Fujian province on Saturday, Xi called for joint efforts to promote the Chinese culture and forge closer bonds.

Calling the Straits Forum an important platform for people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to broadly engage in exchanges and promote cooperation, Xi expressed his hope that the forum will constantly inject vitality into people-to-people exchanges and the integrated development across the Strait

Calling the Straits Forum an important platform for people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to broadly engage in exchanges and promote cooperation, Xi expressed his hope that the forum will constantly inject vitality into people-to-people exchanges and the integrated development across the Strait.

We will continue to respect, care for and deliver benefits to the Taiwan compatriots, promote cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and advance integrated development in various fields, Xi said.

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He called on people from both sides of the Strait to work together to keep pace with the trends of history, safeguard the overall interests of the Chinese nation and contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the cause of national reunification.

Lei Chien, chairwoman of the National Women's League on Taiwan, who attended the forum, said, the congratulatory letter from Xi sends a signal that the trend of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is unstoppable.

"He expressed a deep hope for the peaceful development of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and showed great goodwill to Taiwan through the letter," Lei said.

Although the ruling Democratic Progressive Party authorities on Taiwan and some countries often hype up a potential war across the Strait, it can be seen from the letter and the Straits Forum that more people are working for a peaceful development, she said.

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"Most importantly, the mainland has firmly grasped the direction of peaceful development across the Strait," she added.

Shen Chieh, 33, from Taiwan, attending the forum, said he was encouraged by the congratulatory letter from Xi, which shows that the mainland attaches great importance to cross-Strait exchanges.

A series of beneficial policies rolled out by mainland have attracted young people from Taiwan to cross the Strait to seek opportunities due to the salary growth in Taiwan slowing down, he said.

Coming to the mainland for about 20 years, Chen said he has adapted to local condition. He works now as a lawyer in Beijing, and marries a local resident and they have had their second generation.

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The 15th Straits Forum was jointly held by the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, Fujian provincial government and 82 institutions and organizations from across the Strait. The forum's main conference commenced on Saturday in the coastal city of Xiamen.