On May 30th, the Sixteenth Straits Forum - Straits Surname Forum commenced on Pingtan Island, the mainland's closest point to the island of Taiwan. Over 300 clan representatives, cultural experts, and scholars from both sides of the Taiwan Straits gathered, continuing the theme "Two Sides of the Straits, One Family." The event aimed to strengthen familial bonds and discuss shared prosperity. Notable attendees included Lin Rui, Vice President of the China Overseas Friendship Association, Zheng Jianmin, President of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, and Jiang Erxiong, Vice Governor of Fujian Province, who all delivered opening remarks. Huang Jinfang, Vice President of the Fujian Overseas Friendship Association, and Lai Jun, Party Secretary of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone, were also present.

Lin Rui emphasized the forum's role as a crucial platform for fostering grassroots exchanges and exploring new paths for cross-Straits integration. He expressed hopes for increased collaboration, encouraging more Taiwan compatriots to visit frequently, thereby fostering greater mutual benefits and a shared future. Lin underscored the importance of unity against separatist movements and the pursuit of peaceful reunification.

Zheng Jianmin highlighted the forum's reputation for enhancing surname cultural exchanges and deepening clan relationships between Fujian and Taiwan. He urged both sides to embrace historical trends, uphold national unity, and promote peaceful and integrated development of cross-Straits relations. Zheng called for active participation in China's modernization process to advance national reunification and achieve enduring prosperity for the Chinese nation.

Jiang Erxiong welcomed the attendees, expressing hopes for more surname-based clan reunions through the forum, bringing people from both sides closer together. He invited more Taiwan compatriots to engage in the cross-Straits integration demonstration zone and to seize new opportunities presented by the mainland's development.

New Party Chairman Wu Chengdian and Labor Party Vice Chairman Wang Juanping emphasized that the Strait Surname Forum serves as a crucial platform for fostering emotional and familial connections between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. They expressed hopes for further expanding cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, advancing the process of peaceful reunification, and collectively contributing to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

At the opening ceremony, new initiatives were launched, including the signing of agreements for joint surname exchange mechanisms and the compilation of the "Fujian-Taiwan Clan Genealogy." Attendees visited key cultural and research sites in Pingtan, such as the Cross-Straits Surname Culture Digital Museum, the Pingtan International Research Center for Austronesian Archaeology, and the Pingtan Taiwan Entrepreneurship Park. A sub-forum was also scheduled in Longyan City.