New Taiwan affairs chief says policies unchanged

PINGTAN, Fujian - Zhang Zhijun, the Chinese mainland's newly appointed Taiwan affairs chief, said on Friday the mainland won't change its current polices toward Taiwan, which have been proven right by practices over the past five years.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the 11th Cross-Straits Relations Symposium, he hailed the past five years as a period marking rapid development of mainland-Taiwan ties that has benefited people on both sides.

"There is no reason for us not to stick to the right policies," said Zhang, who is the new head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee as well as the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

He said the mainland will adhere to those methods that have been proven effective and continue to improve them.

The year 2012 saw cross-Straits relations withstand key tests and achieve great progress in moving in the right direction, according to Zhang.

The senior official said the mainland aims to promote the comprehensive development of cross-Straits ties in a steady manner this year.

Zhang proposed measures to further boost mutual trust, step up dialogue and consultation and economic cooperation, promote exchanges and forge unity with Taiwan compatriots.

Experts and professionals on cross-Straits relations from both the mainland and Taiwan will discuss theories regarding the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and ways of promoting cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation at the symposium.

The event was organized by the Beijing-based Research Center on Cross-Straits Relations.