Mainland's Taiwan affairs chief returns from island visit

Zhang Zhijun (1st L), director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council, talks when being interviewed after arriving at the Capital International Airport of Beijing, capital of China, June 28, 2014. Zhang finished a four-day visit in southeast China's Taiwan on Saturday. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun landed in Beijing at around 10 pm Saturday after a four-day visit to the island.

The trip of Zhang, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, marked the first Taiwan affairs chief from the Chinese mainland to visit the island in 65 years.

"I have exchanged opinions with people from all walks of life in Taiwan. We, in general, think that the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations is the correct path that brings real benefits to people on both sides, and we should walk on," Zhang said at the Beijing Capital International Airport upon arrival.

Zhang noted that, despite some opposite voices, the mainstream opinion on the island supports the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations as well as mutual visits of related departments.

During the visit, Zhang held a formal meeting with Wang Yu-chi, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief. The two agreed that their meeting would be beneficial for honing a cross-Strait regular communication mechanism, and that the consensus reached will help solve further issues.

While going deep into the island's grassroots communities to meet local people, Zhang also exchanged views on more cross-Strait cooperation with New Taipei City mayor Eric Chu and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu.

"We have confidence in properly managing and solving issues in cross-Strait relations through joint efforts and more frequent interactions," Zhang added.