BEIJING -- A seminar was held Friday in Beijing to discuss relations, exchanges and cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in the post-COVID era.

Jointly held by the mainland-based Cross-Straits?Relations Research Center and Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party's think tank "National Policy Foundation," the seminar was attended by scholars, experts and other guests from both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

"We will thoroughly implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)," said Chen Yuanfeng, deputy head of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee.

The mainland will uphold the 1992 Consensus, resolutely oppose separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence," promote exchanges and cooperation in all fields across the Straits, deepen cross-Straits integrated development, improve systems and policies that contribute to the well-being of Taiwan compatriots, and care for and bring benefits to compatriots on both sides of the Straits, he added.

Andrew Hsia, vice chairman of the Chinese KMT party, expressed the willingness to strengthen exchanges with the CPC, promote cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation in various fields, enhance the rights, interests and well-being of people on both sides of the Straits, and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Straits, on the basis of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence."

Experts and scholars from both sides of the Straits also held discussions on such topics as "opportunities and challenges in current cross-Straits relations" and "promoting cross-Straits economic exchanges and cooperation."