Amid ongoing cross-Strait people-to-people ties, the chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT), Cheng Li-wun, has publicly advocated for lowering barriers and deepening exchange opportunities for young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The call came during a Shanghai-Taiwan youth cultural exchange activity held at a riverside book garden along Yangpu Riverside in Shanghai, in a gathering that brought together young creators and cultural enthusiasts from both regions.
In her remarks to participating young people who have built lives and careers on the Chinese mainland, Cheng emphasized the energy and potential of cross-Strait youth engagement. “Seeing that you are living a vibrant life in the Chinese mainland, I think that’s so great,” Cheng said. “If cross-Strait exchanges could be more open, with fewer barriers, I believe young people’s creativity can find like-minded partners and shine on a bigger stage.”
The event marks part of Cheng’s working visit to Shanghai, which also included a stop at the headquarters of Chinese tech giant Meituan, highlighting the KMT’s focus on both youth cultural exchange and cross-Strait industry collaboration. The proposal for enhanced youth exchange aligns with long-standing calls from communities on both sides of the Strait to expand people-to-people connections, particularly among younger generations who will shape the future of cross-Strait relations. Proponents of expanded exchanges argue that greater interaction fosters mutual understanding, breaks down stereotypes, and creates new collaborative opportunities in culture, innovation, business and other fields that benefit young people across both sides.