The first symphony orchestra made up of performers from the mainland and Taiwan made its debut in the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing Monday, marking new progress in cross-Straits cultural exchanges.

Famous Chinese conductor Lv Jia acted as the orchestra's music chief inspector. Performers played representative works of mainland and Taiwan composers as well as those of world-renowned musicians, such as Russia's Tchaikovsky.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and Kuomintang (KMT) honorary chairman Lien Chan watched the performance.

Expressing his appreciation of the performance, Lien said: "The musicians are writing a chapter of peaceful development with their music." Co-founded by the mainland's China Symphony Development Foundation and Taiwan's New Aspect Cultural and Educational Foundation, the orchestra is scheduled to perform in several mainland and Taiwan cities in the coming week, including Shanghai and Taipei.

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2009)