Mid-Autumn Festival event promotes cross-Strait harmony in Fuzhou

A resident from Matsu recommended Matsu liquor at the Mid-Autumn Festival event in Fuzhou, Fujian province on Saturday. （Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）

The shared identity and family ties between people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait was the main theme of a Mid-Autumn Festival gathering on Saturday in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian province.

"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and part of one family," Song Tao, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said, emphasizing the need to oppose "Taiwan independence" separation and external interference to safeguard the homeland.

A bartender from Taiwan crafted drinks blending the liquor from Matsu with Fuzhou jasmine. (Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）

The event, co-hosted by Fuzhou and Matsu, a group of small islands just off the coast of Fuzhou, brought together over 250 participants, including Lien Sheng-wen, vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, and Taiwan compatriots living in Fujian.

Featuring themed exhibits on Mid-Autumn lanterns, Matsu cultural tourism, and traditional folk customs, alongside displays by Taiwan enterprises, the event promoted tourism to Matsu and showcased the achievements of the cross-Strait integration development in Fuzhou.

A highlight of the evening was a drone display featuring 500 drones forming messages including, "One Family Across the Strait", which was met with enthusiastic applause from attendees.

Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait participated in the gathering in Fuzhou, the capital of East China's Fujian province, on Saturday.（Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）

Song's remarks came during a tea party for cross-Strait compatriots, in which he noted the significance of the 80th anniversaries of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45), as well as Taiwan's retrocession. He also highlighted the V-Day parade at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing on Sept 3, which stirred national pride among viewers, including many in Taiwan.

Song Tao, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, and Lien Sheng-wen, vice-chair of the Chinese Kuomintang party, joined a tea party attended by participants from both sides. （Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn）

Song urged for increased cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation to deepen integration and enhance the well-being of the "family", and called for efforts towards peaceful development and national reunification. 

Lien Sheng-wen, vice-chairman of the KMT, said that the Mid-Autumn Festival symbolizes reunion, completeness, and harmony. He affirmed that the KMT will continue to promote cross-Strait exchanges, peaceful development based on the 1992 Consensus, and opposition to "Taiwan independence".