Forward-moving trend of cross-Straits relations unstoppable: spokesperson

BEIJING - The forward-moving historical trend of cross-Straits relations is unstoppable, said a Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday.

An Fengshan, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks when commenting on the 11th Straits Forum held in Fujian Province between June 15 and 21.

An said the forum was very successful despite the Democratic Progressive Party administration's attempts to obstruct it. More than 10,000 people from Taiwan participated, setting a record, he added.

The spokesperson said over 50 percent of the Taiwan participants were young people. A job fair was held on the sidelines of the forum, offering 2,300 positions for young job seekers from Taiwan.

During the forum, a raft of agreements on investment, trade, industry cooperation and primary-level exchanges were also signed, An said.

The sense of a family has been strengthened. At a sub-forum, more than 2,000 people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits who share bloodlines sang "We are a family." More than 600 people from Taiwan visited their ancestral villages on the mainland, An added.

The spokesperson also noted broad public attention in Taiwan on the forum -- over 1,600 news stories, 76,000 comments and about 160,000 likes on social media.

"No one or force can stop the massive strength and the historical trend jointly created by people from both sides of the Taiwan Straits," An said.