Taiwan leader promises closer ties with mainland

Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou has called for the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties and vowed to enhance mutual political trust with the mainland authorities.

The Taiwan Straits has become Asia's most peaceful and thriving channel after years of continuous efforts in that area, Ma said on Thursday.

People on both sides of the Straits are all Chinese, and the cross-Straits relationship is not an "international relationship", Ma said.