Official extends greetings to Taiwan compatriots

The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief extended his festive greetings for the upcoming Spring Festival to Taiwan compatriots on Friday.

Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, extended his best wishes to Taiwan compatriots via www.chinataiwan.org.

Wang noted that the foundation for cross-Strait exchanges and cooperations were further consolidated in 2011.

He encouraged people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to uphold the Dragon spirit in the New Year and contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and the "great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation."

The Spring Festival, which falls on Jan. 23, comes at the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon. In Chinese culture, dragon symbolizes being auspicious, confidence and bravery.