A mainland official on Saturday called on young people in Taiwan to contribute to the development of cross-Straits relations at an event attended by young people from the Chinese mainland and the island.

Liu Jieyi, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, addressed the opening of the 8th Cross-Straits Youth Festival held in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province.

"I hope that young people in Taiwan will bear in mind the great interests of the nation and overcome obstacles to make contributions to the development of cross-Straits relations," he said via video link.

The mainland will continue to provide support for young people from Taiwan seeking opportunities on the mainland, he added.

Liu said a great many Taiwan compatriots and enterprises on the mainland have made contributions to the mainland's battle against the COVID-19 epidemic.

As the mainland has taken the lead in effectively controlling the epidemic, and its economic and social development have shown resilience and vitality, young people from Taiwan coming to the mainland will have better prospects, he said.

Liu called on young people on both sides to work together to push forward the process of national rejuvenation and reunification.

About 500 people attended the event in Fuzhou and other participants from other six cities, including Taipei and Beijing, attended the activity by video link, in which participants shared their lives and work in the mainland.