A seminar on relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan opened Monday, stressing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Dai Bingguo, president of the National Society of Taiwan Studies (NSTS), said that since May last year, the Democratic Progressive Party administration had undermined the political foundation of the peaceful development of cross-strait relations by refusing to endorse the 1992 Consensus.

Under such circumstances, the mainland continued promoting cross-Strait personnel exchanges, boosting people-to-people communication and cooperation, and bringing forth favorable policies for Taiwan compatriots, said Dai, a former state councilor.

Dai said that the Chinese side had always opposed any official and military exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, urging the United States to clearly understand the serious harmfulness of such provisions and abide by the China-U.S. three joint communiques.

The mainland firmly opposes "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities in any form and hopes Taiwan authorities return to the 1992 Consensus, which is the right track of the common political foundation, Dai said.

He called for further improvements in cross-Strait economic cooperation to consolidate common interests and enlarge communication between the two sides to deepen social integration.

Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said that unceasing kinship and strong will for exchange and cooperation across the Strait was an inexhaustible driving force for the development of cross-Strait relations.

"We are confident to unite cross-Strait compatriots, overcome difficulties and eliminate interference," Zhang said. "the mainland will continue to boost cross-Strait relations, maintain stabilities in the Strait and promote peaceful reunification."

The two-day seminar, held in Taiyuan, capital of northern China's Shanxi Province, was jointly hosted by the NSTS, the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots, and the Institute of Taiwan Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.