The six-day Cross-Straits Chorus Festival kicked off in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian province, on June 15. Chi Yuan / for China Daily

Cultural exchanges are playing a leading role in this year's Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian province.

More than 800 Taiwan residents joined more than 2,000 mainland residents to attend the Mazu pilgrimage ceremony on Meizhou Island, Putian on June 15, marking the start of a Mazu-themed cultural week.

The legend of Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea, is deeply rooted in the eastern coastal areas of China.

Mazu devotees from both sides dressed in traditional costumes as they worshipped the goddess and sang carols.

On that same day, the fifth Cross-Straits Chorus Festival opened in Fuzhou, capital of Fujian. More than 1,500 singers from nearly 30 teams were attracted to the event, including 10 teams from Taiwan.

Xu Peidong, a famous Chinese composer and deputy director of the Chinese Musicians' Association, said that Fuzhou, "has become an important base for national development of chorus art" after successfully holding this event four times.

"The Cross-Straits Chorus Festival, along with a series of cultural strategies of the city, will promote the cultural brand of the west bank of the Straits and make great contributions to the cultural prosperity of both sides," he said at the opening ceremony of the festival.

Zhangzhao@chinadaily.com.cn