Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, gestures at a regular press conference in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2016. (Photo: Xinhua/Chen Yehua)
A Chinese mainland spokesman on Wednesday spoke highly of the meeting between leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang (KMT) Party of Taiwan.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, met with KMT leader Hung Hsiu-chu and her delegation in Beijing in early November.
"The meeting played a significant role in enhancing relations between the two parties and cross-Strait ties," said Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.
During their meeting, Xi and Hung recognized their parties' contributions to the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and reiterated the common political foundation of adherence to the 1992 Consensus and opposition to "Taiwan independence," Ma said.
Both sides agreed to consolidate the foundation, trust, development and stability of cross-Strait ties, and improve communication to increase exchanges and cooperation in the economic, culture and society sectors, Ma said.
Ma said that cross-Strait exchange programs for 2017, which were announced at a forum on peaceful cross-Strait relations earlier this month, had opened registration for compatriots from Taiwan.
The forum, jointly hosted by 20 NGOs from across the Taiwan Strait, was attended by about 240 participants from both sides.
The mainland has worked to improve communication among young people and help those from Taiwan to study, work and live on the mainland, Ma added.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen's birth. Ma said Sun is a great historical figure respected by people from both sides and a bond that links the two sides.
Ma called on compatriots from both sides to continue the pursuit for the united, rejuvenated China that Sun had dreamed of, adding that to safeguard the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the best way to commemorate him.
Ma also criticized remarks or actions that attempted to split the country or the nation, which went against Sun's instructions.
