The 12th Straits Forum, the largest platform for people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, will kick off in East China's Fujian province on Sept 19, a mainland spokesman said on Tuesday.

"Despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, this year's forum has attracted wide attention from both sides of the Straits," said Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

Wang Jin-pyng, a former vice-chairman of the Kuomintang Party, and representatives from other parties and organizations in Taiwan, including the New Party and the People First Party of Taiwan, will attend the event in Fujian, he said.

The event consists of a forum and about 30 activities to promote economic and cultural exchange across the Straits.

The main venue is in Xiamen, Fujian and some activities will be held in other cities of the province. Some representatives will participate in the event online, Ma said.

"We hope more residents from Taiwan, especially the younger generation, can join the interaction online," he said.

The forum is an annual gathering initiated in 2009 to enhance people-to-people interaction across the Straits. Last year's forum was held in Xiamen in June.