BEIJING, Feb. 16 -- A mainland official expressed hope for continued cross-Strait "positive interactions", when commenting on Taiwan's appointment of a new mainland affairs chief on Monday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said both sides were expected to uphold the 1992 Consensus and promote the cross-Strait relationship.

Ma said that in the past year both sides had established regular communication mechanisms, realized mutual visits by cross-Strait affairs chiefs, and played pivotal roles in the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Taiwan's administrative body announced Monday that it had approved the resignation of mainland affairs chief Wang Yu-chi.

Wang will be replaced by Andrew Hsia, 65, who was named deputy head of Taiwan's military last year.