The 2018 academic conference of the Fujian Minnan Culture Institute takes place in Xiamen on March 24. [Photo/chinanews.com]

The 2018 academic conference of the Fujian Minnan Culture Institute was held in Xiamen on March 24 to explore ways to creatively develop Minnan culture in the new era.

Minnan culture refers to a regional culture that originated in China's southern Fujian province and, after reaching the Fujian cities of Quanzhou, Xiamen, and Zhangzhou, spread to Taiwan and Southeast Asian countries.

Themed on "reviewing and foreseeing Minnan culture", the conference attracted more than 200 cultural experts from home and abroad.

Six renowned scholars in Minnan culture delivered keynote speeches at the meeting.

Zheng Yong, vice-chairman of the Fujian Minnan Culture Institute, believes that the protection of Minnan culture's ecological reserve serves as an important part of China's cultural strategy.

Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and Quanzhou are the birthplace of Minnan culture and the three cities are also the main ancestral home of Taiwan people.

Tu Zhiwei, chairman of the Zhangzhou Minnan Culture Institute, said at the conference that research into connections between the Minnan region and Taiwan is a significant and timeless academic focus.

He added that to describe the cultural exchange activities between the two areas and the research status and progress of their cultural exchanges is of great importance to cross-Straits peaceful development.

All the experts at the conference agreed that seeking understanding and reconciliation between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland in the progress of reserving, studying and developing Minnan culture and implementing the Chinese mainland's 31 measures of benefiting Taiwan people will be the focuses of Minnan culture research in the near future.

Six renowned scholars in Minnan culture deliver keynote speeches at the academic annual conference on March 24. [Photo/chinanews.com]