A high-profile forum on Chinese culture and the cohesion of the Chinese nation, which drew more than 150 domestic and overseas participants, opened in Beijing Tuesday.

Liu Yandong, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said at the opening ceremony the forum aims to promote Chinese culture and pool the wisdom and strength of all Chinese people in the world for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and advance world peace and development.

"A great rejuvenation needs a great culture", said Liu, adding all Chinese have the responsibility to carry forward the Chinese culture and make it a strong spiritual power in promoting China's rejuvenation.

"We must carry forward the Chinese culture, constantly raise the comprehensive national strength, vigorously promote social harmony, actively promote reunification of the motherland and work to safeguard world peace," she said.

Other prominent figures, including Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Xu Jialu, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Tung Chee-hwa, Taiwan scholar Chen Ying-zhen and Nobel prize laureate Chen-Ning Yang also spoke at the forum Tuesday.

He Luli, vice-chairwomen of the NPC Standing Committee, chaired the opening ceremony and delivered a speech in the morning.

Zhou Tienong, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, also attended the opening ceremony.

The forum, sponsored by the China Overseas Friendship Association and the Chinese Culture Institute, will run through Wednesday.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 28, 2005)