Pingtan, an island off the coast of Fujian province and the Chinese mainland's closest point tothe island of Taiwan, serves as a strategic hub for cross-Straits cultural exchange and international collaboration. On June 18, the 17th Straits Forum's Academic Forumon Austronesian Culture came to a close, marking the end of a dynamic series of dialogues exploring the origins, dispersion, and preservation of Austronesian heritage.

Fujian's deputy director of Culture and Tourism and director of the Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, Fu Qisheng, delivered closing remarks and declared the forum concluded. Also in attendance were Lin Hongyu, vice president of Huaqiao University, and Chen Xunming, deputy director of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone Administrative Committee.

Fu highlighted the forum's focus on three core directions: deepening the interpretationof new archaeological discoveries through interdisciplinary methods; examining Austronesian expansion from both broad civilizational and fine-grained empirical perspectives; and emphasizing the importance of heritage protection alongside the living transmission of culture.

"In this forum, scholars have shed light on major questions surrounding the origins and spread of the Austronesian peoples," Fu noted. "Their rigorous fieldwork, methodological innovation, and open academic dialogue created an intellectual atmosphere rich with insight."

He further emphasized the broader cultural significance of the research. "Austronesian studies go beyond academic inquiry. They serve as a vital bridge connecting shared cultural roots across the Taiwan Straits," he said.

The forum reaffirmed Pingtan's role as a platform for cross-disciplinary and cross-Straits scholarly cooperation, offering momentum for continued engagement in Austronesian cultural studies.