The main event of the 2026 Cross-Strait Marine Culture Exchange Platform was held on May 12 in Pingtan, Fujian province. About 300 people across the Taiwan Strait, including representatives of ethnic groups, experts and scholars, gathered to exchange ideas on the Austronesian history, the inheritance of marine culture and the integrated development across the Taiwan Strait. Together, they traced the origins of civilization, discussed paths to integration and forged a shared commitment to unity.

Delivering an opening speech at the event, Su Hui, vice-chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairwoman of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TDSL) Central Committee, said that throughout thousands of years of Chinese history, people of all ethnic groups, including compatriots in Taiwan, have jointly developed the rich and magnificent homeland and opened up vast maritime territories. They have handed down precious historical relics recording the reproduction, migration, integration and growth of generations of ancestors, while embedding in Chinese culture the great unity tradition and profound patriotism. She emphasized the need to maintain firm historical confidence, continuously reinforce the sense of identity with the Chinese nation, Chinese culture and the great motherland, and to take pride in the Chinese identity.

Liu Cigui, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and chairman of the Committee on Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the CPPCC National Committee, said in his speech that abundant archaeological discoveries and authoritative multidisciplinary research have irrefutably proven that Austronesians originated in the coastal regions of Southeast China and are an important component of the Chinese nation.

He expressed hope that taking this event as an opportunity, both sides of the Taiwan Strait would join hands to deepen research into Austronesian history and culture and restore historical truth with solid evidence, thereby consolidating cross-Strait root recognition, fostering a strong national bond and promoting spiritual convergence between compatriots on both sides.

Tseng Yung-chuan, former vice-chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, said in his address that the Austronesian people hold a significant position within the Chinese nation, and that their unique marine culture and navigation traditions are vital contributions to global cultural diversity. Looking ahead, he advocated for actively promoting peaceful cross-Strait development based on the 1992 Consensus, continuing exchanges and cooperation in various fields to resolve misunderstandings, reduce differences and jointly build a community with a shared future featuring mutual benefit and common prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.

During the keynote speech session, experts, scholars, and representatives of ethnic groups from Taiwan shared their views on topics including Austronesian studies and cross-Strait integrated development.

The two-day event, which was co-hosted by the TDSL Central Committee, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, featured a marine culture exhibition, an opening ceremony, keynote speeches, and roundtable dialogues. The Fujian Marine Culture Carnival was also held on the sidelines of the event.