Ma Ying-jeou to lead delegation of Taiwan youth to visit Chinese mainland from 18-26

Ma Ying-jeou will lead a delegation of Taiwan youth to visit the Chinese mainland from December 18 to 26, a mainland spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the delegation will visit northeast China's Heilongjiang Province and southwest China's Sichuan Province and attend the cross-Straits Youth Ice and Snow Festival in Heilongjiang Province.

While extending a warm welcome to Ma, Zhu said the mainland will make arrangements for the delegation's various activities.

With a long history, splendid culture, vast territory and magnificent mountains and rivers, China is the common home of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, Zhu said, adding that young people on both sides of the Straits carry the future hope of cross-Straits relations.

Zhu also voiced hopes that compatriots across the Taiwan Straits, especially youth, can keep frequent exchanges and visits, jointly carry forward the fine traditional Chinese culture, work together to promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in various fields, safeguard and build the common homeland, and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.