On July 9, the Cross-Strait Forum of College Culture and Innovation (2024) & Short Video Creator Camp, co-organized by the Education Department of Fujian Province, Fujian Youth Federation and Huaqiao University (HQU), kicked off on Xiamen campus of HQU. The event has attracted 130 young teachers and students from 19 universities on both sides of the Strait, including National Taiwan University of Arts, National Taipei University of Technology, Tamkang University, National Quemoy University and HQU. Notably, 70% of the Taiwan students came to the Mainland for the very first time.

Zhang Afeng, Vice Secretary-General of Fujian Youth Federation, HQU President Wu Jianping and Vice President Wang Xiuyong attended the opening ceremony.

Wang quoted Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, from his April meeting with former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in Beijing, “ Both sides of the Strait will have a prosperous future only when their youth have high aspirations”. Wang called upon young people from both sides of the Strait to make the most of this opportunity to capture moments of their interactions through lens. He also encouraged them to share stories that highlight the common bonds and commitment to a shared homeland, and to demonstrate the vitality of integrated development through their actions, working together towards a brighter future.

Themed with “From Home to Heart: A Journey of Shared Experiences”, the event offers students from both sides of the Strait a packed week of exploration. In addition to engaging lectures, they’ll experience the local cultural treasures firsthand, including the Xiamen Film and Television Shooting Base, the historic Jimei Dashe village, and the serene beauty of Kah Kee Park and Jimei Pagoda. As part of the events, participants will explore Multi-Channel Network (MCN) organizations to learn more about the inner workings of the Mainland’s film, television and network industries. They will be creating short videos about the old lanes and red-brick houses in Xiamen and Quanzhou, telling stories of “home” to connect emotionally with young viewers through compelling visuals. It is all about promoting traditional Chinese culture and the building of a spiritual home for all Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

“It is a great platform for youth exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and I’m excited to meet new people and grow my network at the forum.” shared by Sun Da’en, a student from National Taipei University of Technology on his first trip to the Mainland. He told reporters that he had seen countless short videos showcasing dishes and scenery here on YouTube and Facebook. “I couldn’t wait to wander through the bustling streets and quaint alleys with my Mainland friends and capture the beauty of Xiamen and Quanzhou. ”

Different from Sun, Li Ruijue from National Quemoy University is attending the forum for the third time. “It feels like home to me.” He said that the forum offers a rare opportunity for mutual learning and inspiration. While previous years focused on design, this year embraces short videos, providing a more vibrant and immediate way to document and celebrate the shared moments of cross-Strait youth.

In May this year, the forum launched a short video competition with the theme “Home”, drawing over 300 participants from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and receiving a total of 63 entries. After a rigorous selection, only 107 creators were chosen to attend a 7-day short video creator camp, where they benefited from expert guidance provided by established film makers, reporters and college teachers.

The forum was co-hosted by Youth Federation of HQU, Xiamen Jimei Federation of Literary and Art Circles (JMLAC), All-China Youth Federation, the Fengze District Government as well as HQU News Center, HQU Office of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese Affairs, Chinese Language and Culture Education, and School of Journalism & Communication of HQU.

Since its inception by HQU in 2011, the event has brought together over 2,600 young participants from both sides of the Strait representing over 300 teams to engage in diverse activities including cultural inheritance, creative design, exchange seminars and short video creation in cities like Xiamen, Quanzhou, Fuzhou and Taoyuan. With the collaborative efforts of participating colleges, the forum aims to promote exchanges and cooperation, cultural creativity and emotional communication among college students across the Strait. By enhancing cultural exchanges and fostering mutual learning between colleges of both sides of the Strait, the forum provides young people with opportunities to expand their career prospects and build enduring friendships with each other. It has now become an important platform for talent in the creative industries and cultural exchanges between the two sides of the Strait.

Opening Ceremony Group Photo

The Launching Ceremony

Teachers and Students Across the Strait at Opening Ceremony

Visiting Xiamen Film and Television Shooting Base

（Editor: Wei Linying）