Scholars and experts from both sides of the Taiwan Straits on Sunday called for promoting cross-Strait peaceful exchanges and cooperation and forging closer bonds between the people of the two sides.

They made the remarks at an academic activity themed "Cross-Strait Scholars Face-to-Face" in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

Co-held by Xiamen University in Fujian and the Academy of Chinese Culture in Beijing, the activity aims to enhance in-depth dialogue between scholars from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Liu Guoshen, a professor of Taiwan studies at Xiamen University, said close ties provide a solid foundation for people from the two sides to forge closer bonds.

Although there are differences between the two sides, cultural differences should not be exaggerated, he said. Instead, there should be reflection on and tolerance for those differences to promote spiritual compatibility.

Shaw Chong-hai, a former dean of Taiwan's College of Social Sciences under Chinese Culture University, said differences in systems and paths should not stand in the way of compatibility.

Forging spiritual bonds between the people of both sides needs to be implemented in shared livelihood, instead of merely standing in the memory of history and culture, he said.

Noting people on both sides of the Straits share the bond of kinship, the two professors believe that they should care for and trust each other and work together for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Academic circles in the mainland and Taiwan are desperately expecting the recovery of academic exchanges that were suspended for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xiamen University and the Academy of Chinese Culture are seeking more academic contributions to the peaceful development of the cross-Strait relationship by organizing this kind of academic activity.

(Cover: Academic activity themed "Cross-Strait Scholars Face-to-Face" is held in Xiamen, Southeast China's Fujian Province, May 28, 2023. /Graduate Institute for Taiwan studies of Xiamen University)

Source: CGTN