Nearly 1,000 young people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan have gathered in Shanghai for a program with Chinese mainland students to enhance cultural exchanges.

Vice-President Zeng Qinghong, in a letter to participants, hailed the program as a "grand gathering" for young people to "pass on China's cultural heritage" and "carry forward the national spirit".

"Young people from the mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are all the 'Dragon's successors' and are the future of the nation." Zeng said.

He exhorted them to study harder and enhance exchanges in a bid to contribute to the prosperity, stability and development of the mainland, Hong Kong and Macao, as well as to national unification.

Jointly sponsored by the All-China Youth Federation and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, the program is the largest since the two organizations initiated a similar event in 2000.

Source: Xinhua