A dialect song contest to be held in mid-September will unite Chinese all over the world who are originally from southern Fujian Province, including those from Taiwan Province, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore.

This first contest of its kind attracted more than 1,000 domestic and international participants speaking the Minnan Dialect, or the dialect in southern Fujian in southeastern China, and some 60 have entered the finals that will fall on Sept. 9 through 11, according to the organizing committee.

Over 80 percent of Taiwanese descended from southern Fujian people, and they share the same culture and language as southern Fujian locals. Moreover, descendants of southern Fujian moved to and settled all over the world.

The contest's grand finale will be held on Sept. 14 to determine the champion, according to the organizers including the Chinese Musicians' Association, the Fujian Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the provincial satellite TV station.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 5, 2003)