Andrew Hsia (L), Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, shakes hands with his mainland counterpart Zhang Zhijun on Wednesday in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. [Photo/chinadaily.com.cn]

Peaceful development is of great importance to a healthy development of the future cross-Straits relations, according to senior officials from the mainland and Taiwan.

"The path of peaceful development has been accepted by people both from the mainland and Taiwan, and the international community as well," said Zhang Zhijun, the mainland's Taiwan affairs chief.

Zhang made the remarks during a meeting with Andrew Hsia, his counterpart from Taiwan, in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Wednesday.

It was the fourth meeting between top cross-Straits officials from both sides since last year.

In addition to meeting with Zhang, Hsia, Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, will also visit some landmarks of Guangzhou, including the Sun Yat-sen University, Huanghuagang Martyrs' Cemetery, and the Memorial Museum of Generalissimo Sun Yat-sen Mansion, which were built in memories of Sun, China's late leader of revolution and the founder of the Republic of China (1912-1949).

Hsia will also pay a visit on Thursday to Dongguan, a manufacturing city neighboring Guangzhou, where a great number of Taiwanese-invested businesses are located, according to the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

"The core solution to disputes between the two sides is to introduce a peaceful development model, which is widely accepted by a majority number of people in Taiwan," said Hsia.

Hsia also invited his counterpart Zhang to visit Taiwan as both sides pledged to deepen cooperation and strength dialogues to improve the Straits relations.