Mainland to continue Taiwan policies for peaceful ties: top official

（Xinhua）  11:56, June 16, 2013  

Yu Zhengsheng, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addresses the conference of the 5th Straits Forum in Xiamen of southeast China's Fujian Province, June 16, 2013.(Xinhua/Li Tao)

XIAMEN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Sunday promised that the Chinese mainland will continue "correct policies" to consolidate peaceful mainland-Taiwan ties.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks in a keynote speech at the fifth Straits Forum, which opens in the coastal city of Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian Province on Sunday.

Yu said the cross-Strait relations have improved significantly over the past five years, and the fruitful exchanges and cooperations have opened a new era of peaceful development, bringing substantial benefits to the people on both sides.

A group of new policies were announced at the forum with aims to facilitate further exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan.