Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng met in Beijing with a delegation of county and city officials from Taiwan.

The delegation includes officials from New Taipei City and the counties of Hsinchu, Hualien, Taitung, Kinmen, Lienchiang, Miaoli and Nantou.

Yu praised the delegation's efforts to adhere to the political foundation of the 1992 Consensus, promote cross-Strait exchanges at county and city level, and maintain the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, "even against the backdrop of big changes in the situation."

Taiwan's current Democratic Progressive Party administration refuses to recognize the 1992 Consensus, which affirms that both sides of the Strait belong to one China.

According to Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, this undermines the political foundation of cross-Strait relations, leading to a loss of trust and damaging previously amicable cross-Strait ties.

The halting of institutional communication has had a severe impact on relations that had proceeded well for eight years, and harmed the immediate interests of compatriots on both sides, especially those from Taiwan, said Yu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

It is a situation that people on both sides would prefer never to have seen, he added.

Yu stressed that facing the new situation, the mainland will not change its policy toward Taiwan, including adherence to the 1992 Consensus. Any elaboration of the 1992 Consensus must not deny the historical facts nor change its core meaning, he said.

"Our standards and attitudes are consistent," Yu said, adding that cross-Strait institutional exchanges could resume as soon as Taiwan acknowledges the Consensus.

The mainland firmly opposes any form of Taiwan independence and will remain consistent with regard to national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Yu said.

"We will never tolerate secessionist activities in any form, neither radical Taiwan independence nor independence in a gradual or soft way," he said.

He also stressed the mainland's sincere resolution to pursue cooperation in various fields for benefit of all, mainlanders and islanders alike.

The more complex relations become, the more must be done in terms of exchanges, said Yu.

Whichever county or city in Taiwan recognizes the true nature of cross-Strait relations and county-level exchanges, and is willing to contribute to mutually beneficial ties, will be warmly received, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2016)