The seventh Global Mazu Culture Forum and the 24th Mazu Cultural Tourism Festival kicked off on Meizhou Island, in Putian, East China's Fujian province, on Dec 18.

Su Hui, vice-chairwoman of the Chinese Peopl' Political Consultative Conference National Committee and chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, declared the opening of the forum, which was themed on "Passion for Peace and Exchanges of Civilizations".

Su said that Mazu is known as the "Goddess of Peace on the Sea", who protects fishermen and communities near the oceans, going on to say that Mazu culture is an important cultural symbol of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, as well as an important part of Chinese marine civilization.

Su noted that the forum is of important significance in spreading the Mazu spirit, promoting mutual learning and exchanges between people of different civilizations, and pushing forward world peace.

The Global Mazu Culture Forum, held both online and offline, presented a series of Mazu cultural experience activities, including a photo exhibition highlighting the spread of Mazu culture across the world, a  performance competition featuring ancient women's hairstyles in Meizhou and a festival showcasing cross-Straits delicacies.

The events were jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and the governments of Macao Special Administrative Region and Fujian.