Mainland calls for active cross-Straits exchange, cooperation

A Chinese mainland official has called for active exchange and cooperation between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

He made the remarks when meeting with guests from Taiwan on Wednesday.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, met with Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang, and representatives of guests from Taiwan, in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Song conveyed greetings from Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, to the guests, who are in the city to attend a cross-Straits youth snow and ice festival.

He called on people on both sides of the Straits – all of whom are Chinese – to prioritize the future of the country and the interests of the nation, uphold the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" separatism and external interference.

He also urged people to work together to improve cross-Straits relations, maintain peace and stability in the Straits, and pursue national rejuvenation.

Expressing his gratitude for Xi's greetings, Ma said that people on both sides of the Straits – all of whom are members of the Chinese nation – should uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose "Taiwan independence," expand exchange and cooperation, and work together to promote the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.