Yu Zhengsheng (2nd R, rear), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with a delegation of county and city officials from Taiwan, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 18, 2016. (Photo:Xinhua/Wang Ye)
Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Sunday met in Beijing with a delegation of county and city officials from Taiwan.
The delegation includes officials from New Taipei City and the counties of Hsinchu, Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli and Nantou.
Yu praised the delegation's efforts to adhere to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, promote cross-Strait exchanges at county and city level, and maintain the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, "even against the backdrop of big changes in the situation."
Taiwan's current Democratic Progressive Party administration refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which affirms that both sides of the Strait belong to one China.
According to Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, this undermines the political foundation of cross-Strait relations, leading to a loss of trust and damaging previously amicable cross-Strait ties.
The halting of institutional communication has had a severe impact on relations that had proceeded well for eight years, and harmed the immediate interests of compatriots on both sides, especially those from Taiwan, said Yu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
It is a situation that people on both sides would prefer never to have seen, he added.
Yu stressed that facing the new situation, the mainland will not change its policy toward Taiwan, including adherence to the 1992 Consensus. Any elaboration of the 1992 Consensus must not deny the historical facts nor change its core meaning, he said.
"Our standards and attitudes are consistent," Yu said, adding that cross-Strait institutional exchanges could resume as soon as Taiwan acknowledges the Consensus.
The mainland firmly opposes any form of Taiwan independence and will remain consistent with regard to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Yu said.
"We will never tolerate secessionist activities in any form, neither radical Taiwan independence nor independence in a gradual or soft way," he said.
He also stressed the mainland's sincere resolution to pursue cooperation in various fields for benefit of all, mainlanders and islanders alike.
The more complex relations become, the more must be done in terms of exchanges, said Yu.
Whichever county or city in Taiwan recognizes the true nature of cross-Strait relations and county-level exchanges, and is willing to contribute to mutually beneficial ties, will be warmly received, he said.
EIGHT MEASURES TO PROMOTE EXCHANGES
The mainland will adopt eight measures to promote exchanges with the eight counties making up the delegation, according to Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
The mainland will:
-- welcome and support the counties to hold farm produce fairs on the mainland;
-- encourage mainland enterprises to visit the counties to discuss the purchase of agri-products;
-- support the counties promoting tour products to mainlanders;
-- promote cooperation on green industries, high-tech sectors, smart cities and other fields;
-- promote cross-Strait cultural and people-to-people exchanges;
-- promote youth exchange;
-- expand trade and personnel exchanges between coastal regions of Fujian Province, Kinmen and Matsu counties, and
-- support mainland departments in their contacts with Taiwanese counties and expand cooperation with regard to immediate concerns of the public.
Yu Zhengsheng said county-level exchanges should serve the big picture of cross-Strait relations, increasing benefits and strengthening the affection between the two sides.
County-level communication should support people-to-people exchanges, he said, adding that counties in Taiwan could strengthen cooperation with the mainland based on their own conditions and needs by making use of the mainland's resources and market.
The political advisor said he hoped for enhanced confidence, less interference and careful preservation of the positive results of cross-Strait relations in pursuit of the realization of a community of common destiny across the Strait.
