Straits ties to expand despite pact suspension

A top mainland official vowed on Sunday to enhance cross-Straits ties after a key trade pact made little progress because of violent protests in Taiwan.

The mainland will continue working on measures in the interests of Taiwan people, and the key to further development lies in both sides adhering to the 1992 consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence", top political adviser Yu Zhengsheng said.

Yu, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening of the sixth Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian province, which is scheduled to continue through Friday.