Liu Jieyi, the Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, extended New Year's greetings to people in Taiwan and stressed that guaranteeing bright prospects for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations requires the concerted effort of compatriots on both sides.

Liu, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in a New Year's message carried in this year's first issue of the "Relations Across Taiwan Strait" magazine.

Over the past year, the mainland has adhered to the principles of "peaceful reunification" and "One Country, Two Systems," resolutely opposed separatist activities for "Taiwan independence" in any form, and helped people in Taiwan overcome difficulties and seek benefits, Liu said.

"Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait have worked together to overcome difficulties, maintained warm people-to-people exchanges, and forged closer bonds," he noted in the article. "The year 2020 will be the year when we finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and complete the 13th five-year plan, marking a milestone for the Chinese nation toward its rejuvenation."

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Liu stressed that as cross-Strait relations enter the new year, compatriots in Taiwan will fully enjoy the dividends and benefits if both sides embark on the path of peaceful development.

"On the contrary, if a tiny number of people continue to create confrontation and hostility between the two sides, the interests and well-being of our compatriots in Taiwan will be severely damaged," he said, noting that the reunification of the motherland is an irresistible trend.

In the same magazine, Zhang Zhijun, president of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, also wrote a New Year's message to Taiwan compatriots.

Noting that cross-Strait relations will inevitably face challenges in 2020, Zhang expressed willingness to unite more people in Taiwan to contribute more to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advance toward the peaceful reunification of the motherland.

When delivering his 2020 New Year Speech on Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping also said "China must be and will be reunified," calling for joint efforts across the Taiwan Strait to advance peaceful national reunification.

(Input from Xinhua)