Tenth cross-Straits forum to open in Fujian

The tenth Straits Forum is scheduled to be held in East China's Fujian province in the middle of June, according to Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday, Ma said the forum is set to be the first large-scale exchange activity between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan since the 19th CPC National Congress and the preparatory work of it has already started.

Differing from the previous ones, this year's edition will allow the attendees to register online, he added, saying the registration channel will open in the middle of April on its official website.

Established in 2008, the forum has been serving as an important platform for grassroots communications across the Straits.

Fujian, as the host, is closely linked with Taiwan, not just by the narrowness of the ocean channel, but also by blood ties, common language and folk customs. Statistics show that roughly 80 percent of Taiwan residents are of Fujian origin.