The mainland will strengthen exchanges with parties, groups and personages in Taiwan to promote cross-Straits peace, a senior official said yesterday.
"The peaceful development of cross-Straits relations is the common wish of people both on the mainland and in Taiwan, and serves both their interests," said Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Chen said the development of cross-Strait relations has shown sound momentum and faces "a precious and important opportunity".
His remarks are the first mainland response to Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou taking office on Tuesday.
Ma's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung is scheduled to visit Nanjing, Beijing and Shanghai from Monday to Saturday.
"We hope that people on both sides bear in mind the well-being of compatriots across the Straits and the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, build mutual trust, lay aside disputes, seek consensus and jointly create a win-win situation to concretely work for the improvement and development of relations," Chen said.
He said both sides are making efforts for the resumption of dialogue on the basis of the "1992 consensus".
"We are looking forward to making joint efforts to address Taiwan compatriots' concerns through dialogue on an equal footing.
"We understand, trust and care about Taiwan compatriots, and respect their love for their hometowns and their wish to be the masters of their hometowns," he said.
The mainland will continue to implement and improve policies and measures to benefit Taiwan compatriots and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests, he said.
"We will try harder to advance direct links for mail, trade and transport, and promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation," he said.
"We warmly welcome those who used to have the illusion of Taiwan independence, those who used to advocate Taiwan independence and even those who used to engage in such activities to return to the correct path of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations," Chen said.
Questions:
1. What is the name of Taiwan’s new leader who took office on Tuesday?
2. When will the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung visit Nanjing, Beijing and Shanghai?
Anserws:
1. Ma Ying-jeou.
2. From Monday to Saturday.
（英语点津 Helen 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
