Beijing Report: Cross-Strait Official Ties Cold, but Grassroots Warm? Summer Ma and Zhang Zhijun Appear Together as 'Two Major Taiwanese Enterprises' Seen at Event Booths

Amid ongoing low-level cross-strait relations and stalled official communication, the 2026 Cross-Strait Association Exchange Festival kicked off on the morning of August 7 in Chaoyang District, Beijing. Co-hosted by the Beijing Association for Promoting Cross-Strait Folk Exchanges and the Chaoyang District government, the event continued the theme of 'Hundreds of Groups Joining Hands, a Hundred Flowers Blooming,' featuring 15 association salons and site visits across culture, technology, biomedicine and wellness, grassroots governance, and youth engagement.

Summer Ma, former Vice Chairman of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT), emphasized in his speech that the foundation and vitality of cross-strait relations lie in the people. He noted that grassroots association exchanges are more贴近 daily life and closer to the community, and stressed that during challenging times, it is especially important for people to 'walk and see' each other firsthand.

According to mainland official data, 2.85 million Taiwanese visited the mainland in the first half of 2026, a 24.9% increase from the same period last year. The rising numbers and growing proportion of first-time visitors reflect that demand among some Taiwanese for direct engagement with the mainland remains strong.

Wu Xiaojie, Secretary of the Chaoyang District Committee of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, delivered a welcome speech, extending a warm greeting to the Taiwanese association representatives. Wu affirmed that Chaoyang District has consistently upheld the concept of 'Compatriots on Both Sides of the Strait Are One Family,' promoting cultural mutual learning, youth interaction, and economic and trade connectivity.

Zhang Zhijun, Director of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), criticized the DPP authorities for 'setting up numerous obstacles' and 'spreading lies to scare Taiwanese people.' He urged the attending associations to help more people from Taiwan visit and understand the mainland, eliminate misunderstandings, build consensus, and bring 'the real story of the mainland' back to Taiwan. He directly called on groups to resist separatist forces that seek to sever historical and familial ties, urging them to uphold national integrity, recognize the dangers of 'Taiwan independence,' adhere to the One-China Principle and the 1992 Consensus, and 'be proud Chinese citizens.'

Wang Hong, Vice Chairperson of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and President of the Beijing Association for Promoting Cross-Strait Exchanges (BHPF), also stressed that compatriots on both sides are family. She stated that enhancing cross-strait exchanges serves the fundamental interests of both peoples and aligns with historical trends. The BHPF will continue to provide platforms and opportunities for association exchanges under the 'One Family' principle.

At the event, well-known cross-strait brands including Want Want Group, Tenfu Tea, and Panjiayuan brought a specialty market showcasing premium products from both sides. Attendees enjoyed authentic Taiwanese cuisine and local specialties alongside Beijing’s intangible cultural heritage brands and cultural-creative products, experiencing the flavors of Beijing and the charm of Taiwan in one place.

KMT Vice Chairman Summer Ma and ARATS Director Zhang Zhijun jointly inspected these booths.

Photo: Scene from the 2026 Cross-Strait Association Festival, provided by Tian Chang.