BEIJING - A Chinese mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday that the visit of Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, to the mainland is of positive significance for promoting exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits and peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a press conference.

Ma's mainland visit reflected the common aspirations of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits for peace, development, exchanges, and cooperation and is of positive significance for promoting exchanges between compatriots on both sides of the Strait and peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, Zhu said.

Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities colluded with external forces and made provocative moves to seek "Taiwan independence," which seriously harmed the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, undermined the interests and well-being of compatriots on both sides of the Straits, and jeopardized peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits, she noted.