Cross-strait political issues must be faced: China official

ROC Central News Agency

2012/11/07 23:31:09

Beijing, Nov. 7 (CNA) Both sides of the Taiwan Strait will have to face cross-strait political issues "sooner or later," a spokesman for the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Wednesday.

Cai Mingzhao also expressed the hope that both sides could work together to create conditions and build up consensus conducive to the solving of political dilemmas.

Cai made the remarks on the eve of the congress, which will see the start of a once-a-decade leadership transition.

He noted that China will continue to push for cross-strait talks on the basis of the "1992 consensus," saying that the focus of cross-strait talks at present will still be economic cooperation, especially follow-up consultations on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement that was signed in 2010.

The "1992 consensus" refers to a tacit understanding between the two sides of the strait on "one China," with both sides being free to interpret its meaning.

Both sides could also hold talks on exchanges and cooperation in such areas as culture, education, technology and environmental protection, Cai said.

Cai said China's policy toward Taiwan has been "correct and efficient," adding that China will continue such a policy.

China will "continue to push for the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and to unite Taiwanese compatriots," he said.

Cai said that since the CPC's 17th congress in October 2007 and President Ma Ying-jeou's first inauguration in May 2008, the cross-strait situation has been at its most stable and harmonious.

The result of cross-strait development has been most fruitful and exchanges and cooperation on economy, culture and society "have reached an unprecedented level in over six decades," Cai said.

(By Chiu Kuo-chiang and Lilian Wu)