Senior CPC official stresses peace, stability across Taiwan Strait

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at an annual meeting of central and local officials in charge of Taiwan-related affairs in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 20, 2017. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, Jan. 20 -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Yu Zhengshengon Friday said that the Chinese mainland will work to safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and resolutely oppose and contain separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence" in any form.

Yu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks at an annual meeting of central and local officials in charge of Taiwan-related affairs.

Noting that cross-strait relations and the overall situation in 2017 are more complex and demanding than ever before, Yu said the Chinese mainland will continuously adhere to the 1992 Consensus, safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

The mainland will unite all Taiwanese parties, groups and organizations that uphold the one-China principle to protect the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Efforts will be made to continue non-official exchanges and cooperation, promote economic and social integration, as well as to let the public better participate in and benefit from cross-strait exchanges.

More policies will be adopted to facilitate Taiwanese compatriots in studying, working, starting a business and living in the mainland and to support Taiwanese enterprises in accomplishing better development, it said.

To seek and set political foundations for cross-strait negotiations, in November 1992 the mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) reached what is called the "1992 Consensus," an agreement that calls for both sides to adhere to the one-China principle.

State Councilor Yang Jiechi presided over Friday's meeting. Zhang Zhijun, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, presented a work report at the meeting.