Song Tao, a senior Taiwan affairs official of the Chinese mainland, met on Monday with Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met with Hung, who is also the chairperson of the Chinese Cyan Geese Peace Education Foundation in the Taiwan region, on the sidelines of the seventh cross-Straits youth development forum in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province.

Pledging to promote mutual learning and exchanges between young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, Song expressed the hope that young people from both sides will resolutely oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference, actively participate in cross-Straits exchanges, cooperation and integrated development, and realize their potential in the great journey toward national reunification and rejuvenation.

Hung expressed her hope for enhanced exchanges and communication and deepened mutual understanding between young people on both sides of the Straits, urging them to join hands to oppose "Taiwan independence" and promote national reunification and rejuvenation.

Initiated in 2018, the annual cross-Straits youth development forum serves as an important platform for youth from both sides of the Straits to exchange ideas, foster mutual understanding and learn from each other.

(With input from Xinhua)