STORY: Scholars discuss Minnan culture exchange between Chinese mainland, Taiwan
DATELINE: July 10, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:29
LOCATION: XIAMEN, China
CATEGORY: CULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the forum
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): CHEN GENG, Expert of Minnan culture
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): WANG SAN-CHING, Honorary professor at Taiwan's Cheng Kung University
4. various of Nanyin music

STORYLINE:

Scholars from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan on Sunday discussed ways to promote Minnan culture, or Hokkien culture, in an academic event held at Xiamen University in east China's Fujian Province.

This was the fifth event of the "Cross-Strait Scholars Face-to-Face" program co-hosted by Xiamen University and the Academy of Chinese Culture.

Minnan literally means "southern Fujian Province." Many ancient cultural heritages in this region are shared by people across the Taiwan Strait.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG SAN-CHING, Honorary professor, Taiwan's Cheng Kung University
"The Minnan dialect is a branch of the Chinese language. This is a common memory (of people across the Strait.) Language is a strong power to connect us. These songs and operas present the authentic Minnan dialect."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): CHEN GENG, Expert on Minnan culture
"The Gezi opera and Nanyin music performed in the Minnan dialect are part of Chinese culture. I think it's necessary to deepen exchanges on Minnan culture among people across the Strait. The Minnan dialect, Gezi opera and Nanyin music are unbreakable ties that hold people across the Strait together."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Xiamen, China.
(XHTV)