Efforts urged to promote peace across Taiwan Straits

China's top political adviser Wang Yang has urged efforts to smash separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" and curb interference by foreign forces in the Taiwan question.

He also called for the promotion of peaceful and integrated development across the Taiwan Straits.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at a conference on Taiwan affairs held in Beijing on Tuesday.

While affirming the progress made in the work on Taiwan affairs last year under the complex situation across the Straits, Wang said there will be increasing uncertainty and instability in the situation as the world is undergoing great changes unseen in a century and a pandemic.

"We need to strengthen our confidence and see clearly that the time and tide for complete reunification has always been on our side. At the same time, we need to have bottom-line thinking and be prepared to deal with various risks and challenges," he said.

The spirit of struggle should be advocated to resolutely deter "Taiwan independence" provocations and interference by foreign forces, he added.

He called for policy improvements to share development opportunities and ensure enterprises and compatriots from Taiwan receive equal treatment. Measures should be taken to ensure people at the grassroots level and young people in Taiwan can conveniently participate in cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation.

Fujian, the closest mainland province to Taiwan, will be supported in exploring a new path of cross-Straits integrated development and a demonstration zone for such development will be built, he said.

Wang also called for efforts to explain to Taiwan compatriots the core implications of the mainland's policies toward Taiwan, and guide them to uphold the interests of the nation and distinguish between truth and falsehoods.