A cross-Strait forum focusing on themes of politics, economy and culture between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened in Zhongshan, Guangdong province, on Thursday.

Top leaders from Guangdong as well as more than 2,000 representatives from various sectors from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao were present during the three-day Fifth Zhongshan Cross-Strait Forum.

Addressing the forum's opening ceremony, Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, called on Taiwan compatriots and businesspeople to promote peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations and advance the process of China's peaceful reunification.

"Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should strengthen their responsibilities and firmly grasp the future and destiny of the cross-Strait relation, adhere to the fundamental approach of peaceful reunification, and jointly realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," said Song.

Wang Ruijun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial CPC Committee, said compatriots and businesspeople have made important contributions to the economic and social development of Guangdong over the past decades.

Guangdong, hometown of China's democratic revolution forerunner Sun Yat-sen, is one of the provinces with the earliest investment by Taiwan businesspeople, with the largest number of Taiwan-funded enterprises in the mainland, according to Wang.

"We should carry forward Sun Yat-sen's spirit of struggle and vigorously promote integration and development of the cross-Strait economy and society," said Wang.

By highlighting Sun Yat-sen's spirit, the forum would help compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to work together and promote development of the cross-Strait relation, said Gao Konglian, president of the cross-Strait Economic and Trade and Cultural Exchange Association.

A center aiming to introduce talent from Taiwan and transform technology achievements was also launched during the forum, with 80 doctors from Taiwan invited to visit high-tech companies, sci-tech research institutes and universities in Zhongshan, according to the event's organizers.

Through construction of the talent and technology center, some 200 people with high-level talent from Taiwan are expected to be introduced to work at universities, enterprises and technology research centers across Guangdong this year.