The visit to the Chinese mainland by Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang party this week, particularly her meeting on Friday with Communist Party of China Central Committee General Secretary Xi Jinping, is of significance to developing relations between the two parties and across the Taiwan Strait, expanding exchanges and cooperation, and strengthening the common endeavor of opposing "Taiwan independence".

Much has changed over the past 10 years since the last meeting of the leaders of the two parties. Yet some fundamentals have not.

Compatriots on both sides of the Strait belong to the same Chinese nation. In the process of jointly creating a brilliant Chinese civilization, they have also forged a shared conviction that the national territory is indivisible, the nation must not fall into chaos, the nation must not be disunited, and the Chinese civilization must not be interrupted.

In his meeting with Cheng in Beijing, Xi expressed the CPC's willingness to work with all political parties in Taiwan, including the KMT, as well as groups and people from all sectors, to strengthen exchanges and dialogue, promote peace across the Taiwan Strait, improve the well-being of the people and advance national rejuvenation, on the basis of the common political foundation of adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence".

That clearly indicates the CPC's commitment to peace across the Strait, the enhancement of the well-being of the Chinese nation, and the efforts to realize the rejuvenation of the nation, thereby firmly keeping the future of cross-Strait relations in the hands of the Chinese people.

This is also a stern warning that the secessionist forces on the Chinese island attempting to rely on external parties to unscrupulously seek "Taiwan independence" stand on the wrong side of history and against the common will of the Chinese nation.

Saying that people on both sides of the Strait belong to one family, and should rightfully join hands to advance the cause of rejuvenating the Chinese nation, Cheng reaffirmed that the KMT adheres to the 1992 Consensus and opposes "Taiwan independence".

It is good to hear Cheng express the KMT's willingness to advance exchanges and cooperation across various fields — including people-to-people, economic and trade — and promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

The view Xi put forward regarding the development of cross-Strait relations in the meeting provides strategic guidance for the healthy development of the ties not only between the two parties but also across the Strait that is in line with historical trends and the common interests of the Chinese people on the two sides of the Strait.

Closer bonds across the Strait should be forged by upholding a correct understanding of identity. More efforts should be made to safeguard the shared homeland through peaceful development. The core issue for safeguarding the shared homeland lies in recognizing that both sides of the Strait belong to one China. Differences in social systems should not be an excuse for secession.

So no matter how the international landscape and the situation across the Strait may evolve, the overarching trend toward the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation should not change, nor should the prevailing momentum for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait to come together.

Taiwan compatriots should recognize that "Taiwan independence" is the primary force undermining peace across the Taiwan Strait and should neither be condoned nor tolerated, as Xi emphasized.

All of these respond to the shared concerns of people on both sides of the Strait and their hopes for peace and tranquility, improved cross-Strait relations, and better lives. This is a responsibility that the CPC and the KMT cannot shirk, and also a driving force for the two parties to work together.