New five-year plan to advance reunification efforts

The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–30) will continue to build conditions in various areas for realizing national reunification and advance the process more vigorously, the Chinese mainland's top Taiwan affairs official said on Friday.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks while meeting with the Taiwan delegation to the 14th National People's Congress.

Reviewing the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021–25), Song said the mainland's comprehensive advantages in Taiwan-related affairs have continued to expand. The scope of Taiwan-related work has broadened, and the mainland's ability to shape and influence cross-Strait relations has significantly improved.

"The mainland has consistently maintained the leading role and initiative in cross-Strait relations," Song said.

Song also expressed sincere gratitude to NPC deputies of Taiwan origin for their support for Taiwan-related work over the past year, noting that they had actively offered suggestions across a wide range of areas.

With clearly defined tasks and well-designed measures, the outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan reflects both the strategic continuity and policy flexibility of the mainland's approach to Taiwan, he said.

"The outline will strongly promote cross-Strait economic cooperation, facilitate closer people-to-people exchanges, and steadily build up conditions in various areas for realizing reunification," Song said. "This will advance the reunification process more vigorously and better serve the overall development of the Party and the country."

According to the draft outline, the mainland will continue to promote cross-Strait economic cooperation and exchanges based on the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, while introducing more measures to benefit Taiwan businesses and compatriots.

Song said the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office will fully implement the tasks outlined in the plan and work to promote high-quality development in Taiwan-related affairs. At the same time, it will take resolute action against "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and oppose external interference to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Upholding the concept that "people on both sides of the Strait are one family," the mainland will advance the development of cross-Strait integrated development demonstration zones and promote economic cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

The mainland will also deepen cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, expand personnel exchanges, implement policies granting equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots, and encourage them and their businesses to participate in the modernization of the Chinese nation, Song added.

He also called on people on both sides of the Strait to jointly preserve and promote Chinese culture and strengthen the sense of connection between compatriots. Greater contributions will be made to realizing national reunification and national rejuvenation, he said.

NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation also shared their views on implementing the outline based on their own work. Song said their suggestions were valuable for improving Taiwan-related work and would be carefully considered.