The 8th Cross-Strait College Student Leadership Camp, part of the 12th Straits Youth Day event, opens in Fuzhou on Aug 6, 2024. [Photo provided to gofujian.com.cn]

Final preparations are being made for hordes of young people from Taiwan to head over to Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, in order to participate in a grand cross-Strait exchange event.

The 13th Straits Youth Day, an annual youth exchange across the Taiwan Strait, will stage its centralized activities on Aug 1-7, featuring 25 events including the 9th Cross-Strait College Student Leadership Camp.

Anticipating participation from over 2,000 young individuals from both sides of the Strait, this year's event will represent record high attendance. A total of 52 activities are being planned throughout the year, expecting to engage over 3,000 young talent from Taiwan.

Compared with previous editions, this year's event emphasizes three key areas, with one being cultural resonance and emotional identity gathering.

Centered around the special Fuzhou, Minnan, Hakka and traditional cultures and customs like Chen Jinggu, cultural tracing activities will be organized.

By leveraging cultural landmarks such as the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, activities showcasing intangible cultural heritage crafts will enable young participants from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to immerse themselves in the allure of Chinese culture.

The second key area is fostering integration vitality through exchanges and connections.

With a focus on youth interests and professional development, this year's event will feature popular exchange activities like baseball, rugby and e-sports among young individuals from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Additionally, competitions will be open to young talent in fields such as rural vitalization and digital technology, encouraging collaborative development among professionals across various sectors.

The third area is driving tangible outcomes to advance integration. The second batch of measures supporting the construction of a "cross-Strait youth development city" in Fuzhou will be announced.

Over 2,000 high-quality, well-paying job positions tailored for Taiwan youths will be offered.

Furthermore, initiatives that continue to build a same-city living circle between Fuzhou and Matsu will be implemented to further advance integration endeavors.