1992 Consensus is focus of Liu's first meeting

Liu Jieyi, in his debut as head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, met a delegation from Taiwan on Monday in Shanghai.

The island's delegation was led by Eric Chu Li-lun, mayor of New Taipei City.

Beijing's guiding principle in its Taiwan affairs is to uphold the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China policy and opposes "Taiwan independence", said Liu, who took office last week.

By upholding the thought that "people from both sides of the Straits are a family", the mainland will carry out the 31 measures－newly released policies to benefit Taiwan people who study, work and live on the mainland. The goal is to further promote cross-Straits cultural and economic development, including advancing intercity communication and improving the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, Liu said.

He said he hoped people across the Straits would join to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and the peaceful reunification of China.

Chu said the 1992 Consensus is the foundation for cross-Straits relations and peaceful development.

He said cross-Straits communication and cooperation should be further expanded to promote intercity exchanges and improve people's well-being.

Chu also is former chairman of the Kuomintang party.

His trip started on Wednesday and he stopped in Jiangsu province and Shanghai. It is his fourth visit to the mainland.

"The meeting conveyed the thoughts of the top leaders, such as upholding the one-China policy and peaceful development," said Zhu Songling, a professor of Taiwan studies at Beijing Union University.

"It also showed that the mainland is willing to open dialogue with political parties and groups from Taiwan－which recognize the 1992 Consensus－to promote development and restraining 'Taiwan independence'."

Chu has backed-up the one-China principle before, Zhu added.