Mainland pledges new policies to facilitate development of Taiwan businesses

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland will introduce new policies to ensure equal treatment for Taiwanese compatriots and businesses, a mainland official said Monday.

In 2018, the mainland will work to promote cooperation between mainland and Taiwanese businesses, and improve financial services to give more support to Taiwanese businesses on the mainland, said Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

More "effective" and "heartwarming" policies are in the pipeline, said Zhang while addressing a gathering of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland.

Stressing that the cross-Strait relations and situation face greater complexity and challenges in 2018, Zhang said the Chinese mainland will unswervingly adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" in any form, and promote economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides.