New Party delegation from Taiwan visits mainland

The director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office met with a delegation from Taiwan's New Party on Monday to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Zhang Zhijun, the office's director, praised the New Party for promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and recognizing the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.

He said the visit came shortly after the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and reiterated how the mainland will address issue of Taiwan by citing the report from the congress.

Cross-Straits relations have faced challenges because the Democratic Progressive Party, the ruling party in Taiwan, has refused to recognize the one-China principle, leading to a suspension of official communications between the mainland and the island, Zhang said.

He said the DDP had proposed de-Sinofication of the island, cutting ties between the mainland and Taiwan in culture, education and social fields.

"Taiwan independence" is an obstacle to peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, Zhang added.

Yok Mu-ming, chairman of the New Party, who led the delegation, described the visit as an "innovative trip". He cited the report of the 19th CPC National Congress, delivered by General Secretary Xi Jinping, saying that the mainland respects the current system and way of life in Taiwan, and is ready to share development opportunities on the mainland with Taiwan compatriots.

He said that, as a Chinese person from Taiwan, he understood the mainland's status quo regarding development and direction by reading the report.

It is a shame that in recent years Taiwan has focused on stirring up conflict internally, while the mainland remains focused on growth and development and some Taiwan people prefer to place their hope in the mainland, he added.

The mainland has issued a series of favorable policies to help Taiwan residents study, work and live in the mainland.

"As a party, we are against 'Taiwan independence', promoting peaceful development and realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Yok said.

Liu Jieyi, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office, also attended the meeting.

The eight-day visit by the New Party delegation will end on Saturday, according to An Fengshan, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

The visit aims to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and advance the process toward the peaceful reunification of China and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, An said.