Mainland official wants ties to be safeguarded from U-turns

The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Zhang Zhijun called on Saturday for efforts to avoid U-turns in ties across the Taiwan Straits during a two-day visit.

"Both sides should be determined to protect cross-Straits relations from U-turns and setbacks, which are also the common aspirations of compatriots across the Straits," said Zhang, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. He was speaking as he met with Taiwan's mainland affairs chief Andrew Hsia on the island of Kinmen, Taiwan.

Cross-Straits relations are at a new crucial point, and both sides should consider earnestly the future development of the ties, Zhang said.