At 7 p.m. on April 25, the 200th special forum “Lei and Fan’s Show” and the first offline forum, with the theme of “Cross-strait cooperation, mutual learning and imagination of future”, was successfully held and broadcasted live on the online platforms.

Since the establishment of the China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) in May 2021, it has held 200 online and offline forums, with more than 40,000 participants, and invited more than 400 experts and scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to provide professional guidance as consultants, aiming to let the world hear the “most authentic voice”. As stated in the slogan and goal of China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong), i.e., “based on the two sides of the Straits and explore the world”, it will continue to work hard to promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations in the future. In the 200th special forum “Lei and Fan’s Show” and the first offline forum, in addition to releasing the latest research results of the Academy, e.g., “2023 Cross-Strait Relations Risk Index” report and the Blue Paper on Cross-Strait Relations-2022, etc., it specially invited Wang Bingzhong, the media commentator, the former New Party spokesperson and youth committee chairman, Wu Yi-han, the director of the Cross-Straits Youth Exchange Association and Zhang Shaoqun (@hanguoren), a self-media blogger in Taiwan to discuss the topic of “Cross-strait cooperation, mutual learning and imagination of future”. They focused on the following aspects: how to view the motivation of catalyzing the risk change of cross-strait relations, how to effectively promote the transition of “motivation” towards promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, how to view the next trend of risk in cross-strait relations and effectively eliminate unstable factors, and how can the young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits better work together and share their own thinking combining the reality of their respective fields, etc. Lei Xiying, the director of China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) and member of Fujian Provincial Political Consultative Conference, and Fan Jiangfeng, the general manager of Xiamen Qidataixiang Entrepreneurship Service Co., Ltd., and co-sponsor of Fan’s Venture Capital Fund, served as the host of the meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, Luo Dingjun, the Secretary General of the China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong), reviewed the activities of the Academy and Lin Zi, the Deputy Secretary-General, released the latest research results of the Academy, i.e. “2023 Cross-Strait Relations Risk Index” report and the Blue Paper on Cross-Strait Relations-2022. The Academy found that the basic trend of continuous deterioration of cross-strait relations in 2022 had not changed, and the cross-strait relations risk index had hit a new high of 7.45 comparing to the 7.07 in 2021. The Democratic Progressive Party authorities repeatedly proposed the position of “anti-China and protecting Taiwan”, leading to the continuous deterioration of cross-strait relations, which was the primary reason for the rising risk of cross-strait relations. In addition, there were also negative factors such as the supporting of foreign powers led by the United States for “Taiwan independence” forces, the decline of cross-strait economic and trade exchanges, and the low level of recognition of Chinese identity by the people of Taiwan. The Blue Paper on Cross-Strait Relations-2022 pointed out that cross-strait relations in 2022 were seriously disturbed by the visit of Nancy Pelosi, the then Speaker of the US House of Representatives. At the same time, Taiwan’s economic growth was slowing down, the exports to the mainland were shrinking, and the United States had tried to integrate the high-tech industrial chain between the United States and Taiwan. In short, cross-strait relations had been turbulent and eventful.

Wang Bingzhong said that the content of the above two reports has to be recognized and praised. The current risk in the Taiwan Strait is even more higher than that of 1950 and 1996. At present, there is a great disparity in military strength between the two sides, and the risk index is soaring. However, the people of Taiwan are indifferent to the current situation, even more so than before. Under the deliberate cover-up of Taiwan’s media, people’s attention has been constantly diverted. In addition, the United States constantly hypes up the Taiwan card to contain the mainland and tries to arm Taiwan, which will only make Taiwan suffer in the end. The biggest fog in the minds of young people in Taiwan comes from the long-standing indoctrination of Taiwan’s media, thus making the people of Taiwan blindly believe in the “superiority” of Taiwan’s system and fall into ideological superstition. In fact, the people of Taiwan do not understand the true meaning of “democracy”, “freedom” and “dignity” that they talk about every day.

Wu Yi-han pointed out that cross-strait relations have gradually entered a new stage with many implicit problems needing to be taken seriously, which has also overturned many formalized ideas of cross-strait exchanges since 1987, and the two reports of the Academy have also provided great theoretical support in this regard. Deliberate stirring is an important reason for the increasingly fierce cross-strait conflict. Many young people in Taiwan ignore the existence of risks, but some young people are actively participating in cross-strait exchanges. To some extent, the high risk between the two sides is also an opportunity for new breakthroughs in cross-strait relations and to resolve the bottleneck of ideological conflicts. Whether in terms of industry or economy, the people of Taiwan will surely live a better and dignified life with the support of mainland China.

Zhang Shaoqun pointed out that young people in Taiwan have been deceived by fantastic political packaging and have unconsciously become accomplices of politicians in Taiwan and tools for them to gain benefits. Many young people in Taiwan have a very shallow understanding of politics, so they should first expose the lies if they want to change their minds. The hyping “anti-China and protecting Taiwan” of the Democratic Progressive Party for many years has neither legal basis nor practical effect. It is unrealistic to hope to please other countries in exchange for their own dignity. If the people of Taiwan want to live and work in peace and contentment, they must be brave enough to break away from the deception of the Democratic Progressive Party and face the reality that the rise of the mainland and the reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are the best destination. In recent years, the mainland’s international status has been rising, and recently it has even contributed to the restoration of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is beyond the reach of the United States and other countries and also the source of national dignity and self-confidence for the Chinese people.

In addition, the host Lei Xiying also said that the island’s information cocoon prevents Taiwan people from knowing the truth. And the United States uses various means to exert pressure on the mainland, which is also intensifying the risk of cross-strait relations. Many young people in Taiwan have established their own so-called information comfort zone because of the closedness of information. They are accustomed to living in the existing cognition because they are not confident to some extent. In fact, young people in Taiwan should be more confident and brave to communicate with the mainland, so that they can get closer to the truth, and then understand that the two sides can develop hand in hand and Taiwan can participate in the construction of the community of human destiny, so that more young people can realize their due value in the cross-strait exchange and practice. If young people of Taiwan want to imagine the future, the following key words are worth referring to. The first is to “make clear the bottom line.” “Taiwan independence” is not allowed, the  lost crowd playing with fire will only bring trouble upon themselves in the end. And breaking the bottom line will cost Taiwan its future. In addition, young people of Taiwan should have “independent thought” instead of following the media and coming up with “one-party dictatorship” and “authoritarianism” when the mainland is mentioned. Director Lei pointed out that the development of mainland China has relied on the empowerment of the whole-process people’s democracy and has been also the result of multi-party cooperation under the CPC’s leadership and the joint promotion of people’s democratic consultation. At the same time, Director Lei also called on young people of Taiwan to try to “embrace the world”, because only embracing all kinds of information from all over the world can they have opportunity to think comprehensively.

Fan Jiangfeng mentioned that the exchanges of the Academy have never been confined to a comfortable layer, but the Academy hopes that through the exchanges and discussions between experts and scholars across the Straits, they can put their different views on an open platform for further discussion, and then find a more appropriate way of communication. The most important thing for the people of Taiwan is to compare the systems of two sides of the Taiwan Strait, i.e., which system can really benefit the people and make the people’s sense of gain and happiness higher and higher. At present, with tenacity and efforts, many young entrepreneurs of Taiwan in the mainland are slowly setting down. They not only have a small pleasure, but also have a big future. The Fan’s Venture Capital Fund is also willing to give more support to more such young people on their way to entrepreneurship and employment. Taiwan also has many advantages, and Taiwan youth should take the advantages to better seek the road of life development with the policy support of the mainland. At the same time, they should be grateful and make contribution to the mainland, joining hands with more mainland youth to complete the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The special guest Huang Rihan, the assistant dean of the College of International Relations at Huaqiao University, mentioned that young people in Taiwan should open their minds and broaden their horizons in order to see a bigger world. The two sides should develop peacefully and work together to create the future. Cross-strait exchanges are necessary because mutual understanding can reduce risks and mutual learning can achieve greater breakthroughs.

In addition to the wonderful speeches delivered by the guests, the audience also actively participated in the interactive Q&A on the topic. The questions of the audience include many aspects, such as the suggestions for youth of Taiwan to come to the mainland for starting a business, employment and life and their impression of Xiamen. All the guests at the meeting answered these questions, and the discussion was heated, highlighting the great concern of young people and scholars on Cross-Strait on the topic of “Cross-strait cooperation, mutual learning and imagination of future”.

Among them, Wang Bingzhong said that his deepest impression of Xiamen is that the environment here is very similar to Taiwan. If friends from Taiwan choose to go to Xiamen as their first stop on the mainland, the integration will be relatively faster. The economy here is like that of Taipei, and the life is very similar to that of central and southern Taiwan. As the “the garden of the sea”, Xiamen also make people more familiar and comfortable. Besides, the pace of life in Xiamen is not particularly fast, but the space and opportunities are much more than those in Taiwan. Wu Yi-han suggested that friends from Taiwan can take Xiamen as the first stop to come to the mainland if they don’t know about the mainland very well. Xiamen and Taiwan share a common language (Minnan dialect), the local conditions and customs are more approximate, and the language environment is more friendly. Xiamen is only separated from Taiwan by a sea, and it can become an important supply station before Taiwan compatriots enter the second city of the mainland. The support of government and the experience gained from friends in private sectors can help Taiwan youth find a more suitable city and development in the vast land of the mainland. Zhang Shaoqun pointed out that when he was in Taiwan, he often heard people say that Xiamen is very close to Kinmen, so the bright and beautiful appearance of Xiamen is just a tool for the propaganda, and the inner areas in Xiamen are not like this. However, in fact, Xiamen will leave people a lasting impression whether in terms of good infrastructure, urban environment and nice food, or convenient transportation, superior employment environment. He sincerely suggested that Taiwan compatriots, whether they simply come to the mainland for a walk or for development, they should take first step bravely, so that they can show their advantages in this fertile land.

At the end of the meeting, Wang Bingzhong hoped that many friends in Taiwan who have seen the situation clearly will work together to awaken more people of Taiwan around them in the future. Wu Yi-han pointed out that in the future, she hoped that more young people in Taiwan would be brave enough to face themselves and look for their future, and that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should abandon their prejudices and learn from each other. Zhang Shaoqun hoped that Taiwan’s young friends will be more confident, and that the two sides will work together to learn from each other and imagine the future. Lei Xiying said that in the future, the China Cross-Strait Academy (Hong Kong) will also draw up new plans for online and offline communication and will take industry as a starting point to interact more accurately with the youth groups on the island, talk about cross-strait industrial development and help cross-strait youth work hand in hand. Fan Jiangfeng issued a call to all people of Taiwan to “go home”: “You don’t need a reason to go home, but you need an excuse not to.”.

Through two and a half hours of online exchange, nearly 2000 people from both sides of the strait gathered to discuss the topic of “Cross-strait cooperation, mutual learning and imagination of future” to promote cross-strait exchanges with practical actions, and make contributions to maintaining cross-strait peace and development.