Peace Angels spread wings over Straits

More than 160 teenagers from Taiwan have joined 70 of their counterparts on the mainland for a celebration in Beijing on July 5 to mark the 20th anniversary of cross-Straits Peace Angels activities - an event to build peace among young people across the Straits.

The activity, organized by the mainland's All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, the Taiwan Soka Association and other civic groups on both sides of the Straits, has allowed teenagers to make mutual visits in the past two decades to promote personal exchanges among the young generation.

"The activity was set up to extend the peace idea across the Straits for our next generation, and now we see the seed of the idea has sprouted and even became a tree," said Liang Guoyang, president of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots.

According to Liang, more than 10,000 people on both sides of the Straits have been involved in the activity, and many of the young peace ambassadors are now growing up as university students.

Long Yingxian, a sophomore at Beijing-based Renmin University of China, said he has benefited from the experience as he was selected as a cross-Straits Peace Angel on the mainland seven years ago.

"My visit to Taiwan left me with a happy and sweet memory," said Long, who lived with a home-stay family in Taipei.

"I made friends with the children in the family, and there was no gulf between us as we were concerned with no political issues but only fun and joys in daily life."

Chen Shun-he, principal of the Dongmen Elementary School in Taipei, hailed such exchange activities as helping children on both sides of the Straits to know more about their counterparts.

"I believe the personal ties they made now can make them conscious about cross-Straits peace over their whole lives," he said.

A gala show, performed by teenagers from both the mainland and Taiwan, was held in the afternoon to celebrate the event.

The cross-Straits Peace Angels from Taiwan this year will take an eight-day visit in Beijing and Tianjin. They will visit museums, cultural relics and schools for exchange activities.