The Cross-Strait Peaceful Development Forum has begun in Beijing. It serves as a platform for cross-strait non-governmental exchanges.

Yu Zhengsheng (R, rear), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, meets with representatives who are here for a forum on the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Zhang Zhijun spoke at the event. He said the two sides have held 10 forums on cross-Strait economics and culture over the past decade. But this year the range of topics has been extended, so they can get a wider spectrum of opinion. He reintegrated the importance of adherence of the 1992 Consensus, which reflects the one China policy.

"The 1992 Consensus" is the political foundation of the peaceful development of the cross-strait relations. It's the basic premise for the two sides to build mutual trust and conduct benign interaction. If we lose this premise, we will have no way to build the mutual trust and the all aspects of the relations' peaceful development will be damaged," Zhang said.

At the opening ceremony, the vice chairman of Taiwan's Kuomingtang Party, Chan Chi-hsean, also stressed the importance of the 1992 Consensus. He also said that the cross-strait relationship is not an ordinary state-to-state one, but since the two sides have experienced 60 years of different systems, and military and diplomatic policies. Hard efforts need to be put to get the two sides closer.

"If we want to fuse these estrangement between Taiwan and the mainland, we must pass the test of time and wisdom. We have added the topic of politics to the forum, which shows our pragmatic fashion. We are not running away from the difficulties, instead, we are facing them with courage," Chan said.

The participants have been split into five groups. On Wednesday and Thursday, they will discuss issues concerning politics, economics, culture, society and young people. They will try to strengthen cross-Strait political trust, economic cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.