FUZHOU, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- A research institute on the shared history and culture of Taiwan and the mainland's coastal province of Fujian has been launched in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian.
The institute, approved by the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, will conduct cultural exchanges and joint research on traditional arts, cultural relics, folk beliefs and ancestral history across the Taiwan Strait on a regular basis.
Currently, six members from Taiwan and 17 members from the Chinese mainland sit on the council of the institute launched on Wednesday, and they are in charge of deciding what kind of activities will be held.
A total of 29 experts from both sides in fields such as music, film, applied arts, and historical research have been hired as part-time researchers.
"Fujian is just across the Strait from Taiwan, and people from both sides share the same roots and culture. The launch of the institute is aimed at utilizing the rich Fujian-Taiwan historical and cultural resources here to promote cultural exchanges," said Cai Lihua, secretary-general of the institute.
According to Cai, the institute is expected to serve as a non-governmental cross-Strait think tank and a window for the culture and cultural relics of Fujian and Taiwan. Enditem
