On May 19, the launch ceremony and main program of the 8thCross-Strait (Hubei) Youth East Lake Exchange took place at SCMU. Over 700 young people from across the strait gathered by the South Lake and under the Twin Towers to renew friendship and discuss shared development.
Officials and guests attending the opening ceremony included Zhao Shitong, Deputy Director of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council; Kong Lingzhi, Vice Chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League; Lin Yisheng, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the New Party; Kong Wenji, Deputy Director of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs of the Kuomintang, and Li Changzhi, Director of the Youth Department of the Youth Development Committee of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang, along with heads of other Taiwan-based youth groups; Ning Yong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Hubei Provincial Committee; Cheng Liangsheng, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei Provincial People’s Government; Xiao Wenlin, Vice President of the All-China Youth Federation; Yang Yucheng, Deputy Director of the Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the National Ethnic Affairs Commission; Liu Zhitian, Honorary President of the Hubei Youth Federation; Liu Hongming, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of Wuhan Municipal People’s Government; as well as leaders from other provincial departments including the Department of Education of Hubei Province, the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Hubei Province, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Hubei Provincial People’s Government, the Hubei Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League. Xu Yeqin, Secretary of the University Party Committee, and Liu Yi, Deputy Secretary of the University Party Committee and President of the University, presided over the opening ceremony.
The Opening Ceremony. (Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs)
In his welcome speech, Xu Yeqin stated that SCMU has always adhered to the concept that “People on Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Are All of the Same Family”, advancing integration through education, nurturing bonds through culture, and bringing people together through emotional connection. The University has taken proactive steps and assumed its responsibility in promoting cross-strait educational cooperation, youth exchanges, and the integrated development of ethnic minorities, working hand in hand to follow a path of mutual understanding, mutual learning, and shared pursuit of dreams.
In his remarks, Li Changzhi noted that young people are not only participants in the future but also its designers. He expressed his hope that young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait would maintain an open and confident mindset, see more, listen more, and exchange more, so that Chinese civilization will continue to be passed down from generation to generation.
In his address, Ning Yong stated that General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping met with Cheng Li-wun, Chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang, on April 10 and delivered an important speech, which has further charted the course for cross-Strait relations and serves as the fundamental guideline for advancing Taiwan-related work in the new era. He expressed the hope that young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait would sustain the “shared root” of Chinese culture, uphold the “shared pursuit” of integrated development, and bravely shoulder the “shared responsibility” for national rejuvenation, while strengthening their resolve, fortitude and confidence as proud Chinese people, so as to contribute their youthful energy to the realization of national reunification and rejuvenation.
The attending officials and guests jointly launched the exchange activities.
The main program following the opening ceremony consisted of three chapters — “Ethnic Charm”, “Ethnic Bond” and “Ethnic Dream” — featuring diverse forms including cultural performances, interactive interviews, situational sketches, AI-produced short videos, and robot shows, fully showcasing the rich heritage of Chinese culture and the creative vitality of young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The Main Program. (Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs)
The dance pieceChu Ge Xingbrought the charm of Jingchu culture to the stage. Wu Yingjie, a faculty member from Taiwan at SCMU, showcased the culture of Jingchu and the scenery of the Taiwan Strait through traditional ink painting, building an artistic bridge between the two sides. The songMy Future Stylecaptured the youthful spirit of university students, while the situational dramaLord Chunshen Huang Xie: Risking His Life to Rescue the Crown Prince and Return to Chuvividly illustrated the deep kinship and cultural identity encapsulated in the saying, “All the Huangs of the world trace their roots to Jiangxia; people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same origin”. A representative of an alum-founded enterprise, drawing on his company’s successful experience in taking its works global, described how China’s animation industry is transitioning from “keeping pace” with global leaders to “leading” the way. Kong Wenji, a visiting professor at SCMU, shared with deep emotion the original intention and story behind his donation of a precious collection of Taiwanese ethnic minority costumes to the Ethnology Museum. Li Ran, the museum’s curator, further elaborated on the museum’s significant role in preserving, researching, and displaying the cultural heritage of all ethnic groups, as well as in fostering ethnic unity and progress and forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation.
Colorful Activities. (Department of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs)
It is reported that this year’s exchange, themed “Ethnic Unity, Youthful Integration — One Heart, One Youth”, featured a diverse and vibrant array of events. These included the “Chu Culture Nourishes Both Sides, Cultural Heritage Unites Youth” Hubei-Taiwan Youth Unity Fair, the “Thousands of Jobs for Taiwanese Youth” internship and employment recruitment fair, the “Rhythms of China, Energetic Youth” Hubei-Taiwan Youth Traditional Sports Carnival, the “United on the Arts, Dynamic Youth” Hubei-Taiwan Youth Cultural and Artistic Exchange and Dance Department Graduation Performance, and the Jingchu Culture Experience Camp.
Artistic Performance. (Photo provided by the School of Music and Dance)
During the event, Hubei Province released its “Ten Measures to Promote Exchanges and Cooperation Between Hubei and Taiwanese Youth” and set up sub-venues in Wuhan, Xiangyang, and Yichang. The measures are aimed at encouraging young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together with one heart and one mind, deepen exchanges and cooperation, enhance mutual understanding and emotional bonds, and help Taiwanese youth pursue, build, and realize their dreams in Hubei.
