Mainland to continuously promote cross-Strait exchanges in 2020: spokesperson

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland will continuously promote cross-Strait exchanges in various fields, seek positive outcomes and solve difficulties of Taiwan compatriots in 2020, a mainland spokesperson said Wednesday.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a regular press conference.

Noting that the personnel exchanges across the Taiwan Strait remained stable at around 9 million last year, Ma said Taiwan compatriots' expectations for strengthening cross-Strait exchanges stood in strong contrast with the restrictions imposed by the Democratic Progressive Party authority.

The mainland authorities issued new policies last year, known as the "26 measures," to provide more convenience for Taiwan compatriots to study, work and live on the mainland, said Ma.

The trade volume across the Strait reached $207.06 billion in the first 11 months last year, Ma said, adding that the mainland approved 4,765 Taiwanese investment projects in the same period, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.9 percent.

Ma also said the mainland's actual use of investment from Taiwan reached $1.52 billion in the first 11 months last year, up 26.8 percent from the year before, and the investment extended from manufacturing to the service industry.