Artists and enterprises from both sides of the Taiwan Strait gather at the 17th Cross-Strait Cultural Industries Fair in Xiamen, Fujian province. [Photos provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Exhibitors from Taiwan expressed strong enthusiasm for future collaboration. Lin Yu-jing, who runs a glass art family business in Hsinchu, Taiwan, showcased handmade glass crafts designed by her father. Having attended the fair multiple times, Lin noted the rapid evolution of creative products on the mainland and expressed hope for co-creating artworks with mainland counterparts.

Annie Chen, a jewelry exhibitor from Taipei, brought unique Taiwan blue chalcedony to the fair and remarked that the event effectively highlights and preserves distinctive local craftsmanship. "I feel that Taiwan and Xiamen share similar culture, dialect, and cuisine," Chen said, adding that she enjoyed dining at a local Southern Fujian restaurant and found the food absolutely delicious.

Since its inception in 2008, the fair has prioritized grassroots exchanges, attracting more than 6,700 Taiwan cultural institutions over the years to deepen the shared cultural bonds between the two sides.