The Chinese mainland and Taiwan should join hands and promote cross-Strait relations under the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and oppose Taiwan secession.

Liu Jieyi, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when meeting Han Kuo-yu, mayor of Kaohsiung in the city of Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province, on Monday.

He called on the two sides to strengthen cooperation and communication, adding that the mainland is willing to share development opportunities with Taiwan.

Han responded that the two sides should further enhance city-to-city exchanges and promote the interests and well-being of people across the Strait.

He stressed that the 1992 Consensus is the cornerstone of cross-Strait relations.

Earlier in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed to boost connectivity between southeast China's Fujian Province and the other side of the Strait in all aspects, such as infrastructure, trade and natural resources.

"We should make Taiwan entrepreneurs feel like home when they do businesses in Fujian Province," Xi said in a panel discussion with deputies from Fujian during the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature.

The president reiterated "family issues," "reunification," "mutual understanding and trust" in developing cross-Strait relations in his keynote speech at a gathering commemorating the 40th anniversary of the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in January.

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On New Year's Day 1979, the NPC Standing Committee issued the "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan," stating the major policies to achieve the peaceful reunification of China.

The Kuomintang Party member won Kaohsiung's mayoral election in November last year.  

Before arriving at south China's innovation hub Shenzhen on Sunday afternoon, Han visited the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions and closed deals worth over 100 million U.S. dollars with the two cities.

He will pay a visit to Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, on Tuesday.

(Cover: A view of Kaohsiung, China's Taiwan. /VCG Photo)