More than 70 scholars and university students from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Zhejiang University, and Taiwan Minghsin University of Science and Technology convened in Pingtan for the 2nd Taiwan History Seminar on April 22.

During the opening speech, Zhang Haipeng, director of the Taiwan History Research Center and a member of the academic committee, highlighted the moment of significance, especially making it this far- to Pingtan, an island 68 nautical miles from Hsinchu, the closest point on the mainland to Taiwan. This year's chosen venue reinforces the island's position as the forefront of cross-Straits exchange in history, culture, and other fields in the future. This year, the seminar is jointly hosted by the Sun Yat-sen Foundation, the Taiwan History Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University.

26 academic papers were selected for the seminar, covering Taiwan's social, economic, political, cultural, and cross-Straits historical relations since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Participants will conduct exchanges over a two-day schedule.

Many experts and scholars put forward their views on Pingtan's exploration of promoting cross-Straits integration and development. "From this seminar, I have grasped the key areas of academic interest across the Taiwan Straits and deepened my understanding of data collection, research method, etc," said Mou Libang, assistant professor at the General Education Center of Minghsin University of Science and Technology in Taiwan. He also stated that Pingtan's strategic geography gives it an upper hand in cross-Straits integration and development.

"Pingtan is at the forefront of cross-Straits exchanges, not only because it is the geographical proximity to Taiwan but also because of its active exchanges on various fronts," said Zhang Wensheng, vice president of the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University. In recent years, archaeological discoveries related to the Austronesian have been made in Pingtan, bringing to the attention of Taiwan’s history researchers from all over the country. The seminar allows the participants to learn more about Pingtan. It’s hoped that more such exchanges take the role of a magnet to bring in young scholars and students to Pingtan.

On the sidelines of the event, participants also conducted field visits to places such as the Pingtan Austronesian Museum.

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