Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, sent a congratulatory letter to the 15th Straits Forum on Saturday, calling for accelerated efforts to promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation.

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

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

"We will continue to respect, care for and deliver benefits to the Taiwan compatriots, promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation, and advance integrated development in various fields," said Xi, calling for joint efforts to promote the Chinese culture and forge closer bonds.

He called on people from both sides of the Straits 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-Straits relations and the cause of national reunification.

The right path

Xi's congratulatory letter was read out by China's top political advisor Wang Huning, while addressing the main conference of the forum.

Noting that President Xi places great importance on the Straits Forum, Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, called for continuous efforts to improve the forum, guided by Xi's instructions in the letter.

In his speech, Wang noted that the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is the right path for safeguarding cross-Straits peace and stability, and promoting common development. He expressed strong opposition to separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and external interference.

Only by upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" can cross-Straits relations return to the right path of peaceful development, he said.

Wang also called on people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to strive for national rejuvenation and share the opportunities brought by Chinese modernization.