On July 9, the 2025 Cross-Strait Maritime Culture Exchange opened in Xiamen. University President Xie Chaotian attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. More than 100 participants from the shipping industry, academia, and youth representatives from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended. This marked the first exchange event focusing on maritime cultural heritage, talent cultivation, and industry development.

As part of the 17th Cross-Strait Forum, the event carried the theme “Navigating the Future Together.” Activities included academic discussions, skill exchanges, youth networking sessions, visits to Xiamen Port and the Xiamen section of the under-construction Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge, live maritime rescue drills, and large vessel simulator experiences at Jimei University.

The event reflected the growing momentum of cross-strait maritime cooperation, supported by recent national policies. Institutions including the Xiamen Free Trade Commission, Xiamen Maritime Bureau, Xiamen Federation of Trade Unions, and Jimei University have collaborated to create training bases, joint programs for seafarers, a dispute resolution center, and insurance initiatives, building convenient channels for maritime exchange and integration.

Xiamen, a core port for cross-strait trade, has become a key hub for economic and cultural exchange. In 2024, passenger traffic on the Xiamen-Kinmen “Mini Three Links” route exceeded 1.25 million, a year-on-year increase of nearly 75%.