Huang Xiaowei addresses the opening ceremony of the 13th Straits Women's Forum via video. [For Women of China]

The 13th Straits Women's Forum, under the Straits Forum, was held simultaneously in Fuzhou in Southeast China's Fujian Province, and in Taichung in China's Taiwan, on December 12, 2021. The event was held by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), in collaboration with Fujian Women's Federation and Taiwan Chinese Women General Federation. Participants attended either online or in person.

Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and Deputy Director of the National Working Committee on Children and Women, under the State Council, addressed the opening ceremony via video. Huang noted the complete reunification of the motherland is a trend that no one or force can ever stop, and women represent a necessary and important force in the advancement of the peaceful reunification of the motherland. For many years, women across the Taiwan Strait have followed the prevailing trend of history and have continuously promoted economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. In particular, the Straits Women's Forum held annually expresses women's firm confidence in the fulfillment of the peaceful reunification of the motherland, showing women's contributions to adherence to the 1992 Consensus and to integrated development, Huang added.

Huang said that today, we are closer, more confident, and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality. She hoped women across the Taiwan Strait will always stand on the right side of history, by upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, firmly opposing separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and firmly opposing foreign interference, and that women will safeguard the promising future of the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

Huang called on women across the Taiwan Strait to inherit traditional Chinese culture, play women's unique roles in social and family lives, forge a keen sense of national identity, and pass on the love for their country and families from generation to generation. Huang encouraged women to seize opportunities, give play to their advantages, join in the fast and vigorous development of the Chinese mainland, and lead a wonderful life in cross-Strait integrated development. She stressed ACWF will keep enhancing communications and cooperation with women from all walks of life in China's Taiwan, and ACWF will make efforts with them to create a beautiful future during the new journey.

Guo Ningning, Member of the Standing Committee of the Fujian Provincial CPC (Communist Party of China) Committee and Vice-Governor of Fujian Province, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Cai Linglan, Chairperson of Taiwan Chinese Women Economic, Trade and Culture Exchange Association, Huang Xihui, President of Taiwan Women Elites Federation, and Xu Liu Shuhuang, President of Taiwan Chinese Women General Federation, delivered speeches via video. They said women across the Taiwan Strait are connected heart-to-heart and bonded emotionally, and the women have formed a deep friendship in integrated development. They hoped women across the Taiwan Strait will continue exploring innovative ways of communicating and join hands to create the future together.

Guo Ningning addresses the opening ceremony. [For Women of China]

Cai Linglan delivers a speech via video. [For Women of China]

Straits Women's Forum, an important component of the Straits Forum, has held 13 consecutive annual sessions. The women's forum serves as a significant platform and bridge for women across the Taiwan Strait to communicate and work together. The theme of the 13th session was "Connect Hearts, Promote Integration, Share Voices." More than 150 participants, including women from all segments of society across the Taiwan Strait, attended. During the forum, outstanding women representatives shared stories and families across the Strait paired up. Also, women in the technology field signed agreements, an award ceremony of women college students' entrepreneurship and innovation competition was held, and a cross-Strait women human resources service basement was established. Approximately 540,000 people watched the live broadcast of the forum.

An award ceremony of women college students' entrepreneurship and innovation competition is held during the opening ceremony. [For Women of China]

(Women of China)