The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun on Wednesday stressed the mainland and Taiwan should choose the right path for development of cross-Strait relations.
Zhang, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks during a meeting with Taiwan's cross-Strait affairs chief Andrew Hsia in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province.
Noting that the development of cross-Strait ties has once again come to a key point, Zhang said both sides of the Strait should follow the historic trend, consider public opinion and see the need to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into account when making decisions and to follow the right direction for peaceful development.
He said the mainland and Taiwan are inseparable and share a common destiny.
He also called on the two sides to adhere to the political basis of upholding the "1992 Consensus" and oppose "Taiwan independence", to get over difficulties and make joint efforts for the Chinese nation's renewal and the people's happiness.The core of the "1992 Consensus" is the acknowledgment that the Chinese mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China.
"The cross-Strait history over the past 60-plus years revealed that different paths for cross-Strait relations will lead to different results," Zhang said.
Mentioning that the cross-Strait situation has experienced some difficult times and even reached a perilous brink at one point, Zhang said that since 2008, the two sides have managed to steer cross-Strait ties toward peaceful development which has yielded fruitful achievements and brought about practical benefits for the public on both sides.
"It has been proven that the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties is the right path and it has been endorsed by the public on both sides and welcomed by the international community," he said.
Hsia said the achievements made over the last seven years must be protected.
Some of the problems existing between the two sides may not be solved in a day, but require both sides to be realistic, accumulate consensus and use rational thinking, patience and perseverance, Hsia said.
He said that despite some outside opinions and guesses, the majority of people in Taiwan entertain the hope for peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait.
"I believe it is also the common wish of all relevant parties in this region," he added.
Hsia further called on the two sides to continue institutional consultations and strengthen exchanges.
The two sides agreed that the mainland and Taiwan should continue communication between their agencies in multiple forms and improve the efficiency in handling issues.
They also agreed with each other that the two sides should carry on negotiations for further cross-Strait agreements including those regarding a pact on trade in goods and one on environmental protection.
Furthermore, they pledged to create a more fair and effective investment environment to boost investors' confidence, work for the earlier implementation of existing agreements on service trade, taxation and air safety, improve the cross-Strait tourism market and promote cross-Strait exchanges for youth, culture and education.
Hsia arrived in Guangzhou on Tuesday afternoon for his first mainland visit since he took office in February.
In light of the imminent Taiwan leadership election, "the choice of the future path for cross-Strait ties is a serious subject," said Liu Guoshen, director of the Taiwan research institute at mainland-based Xiamen University.
The two sides are encountering many complicated affairs which entail both parties cooperating, Liu said. "Both sides must consolidate their political basis to achieve this aim."
Chang Wu-yueh, professor with Taiwan's Tamkang University, said Wednesday's meeting has highlighted continued and enhanced communication between cross-Strait affairs agencies.
Chang regarded it as a response to some speculation that such a meeting would no longer occur if the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the Taiwan leadership election next January.
"The '1992 Consensus' is an important foundation and prerequisite for sustaining the communication mechanism between the cross-Strait affairs agencies," said Beijing Union University professor Zhu Songling. "The DPP should be sober enough to realize it."
Zhang Zhijun specially mentioned the choice of path in his speech during Wednesday's meeting, Zhu noted. "It is in fact a warning to the DPP."
