BEIJING - A mainland official has called for keeping pace with the times to consolidate, enrich and improve legal and judicial assistance for cross-Straits exchanges amid the peaceful development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

Since 2008, the mainland has issued a series of policies to promote exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait, said Sun Yafu, deputy director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, at the opening of the second forum on the study of law regarding peace and development across the Taiwan Strait, which was inaugurated in Beijing on Wednesday.

Sun criticized separatist forces in Taiwan that have tried to block the development of cross-Straits relations, which has brought about negative impacts on the development of legal governance concerning cross-Straits ties.

Cross-Straits exchanges must be based on the one-China principle, he stressed.

The mainland will further protect the rights of Taiwan compatriots in the mainland, while Taiwan should also give more fair treatment and create a better environment for mainlanders living, studying and investing in Taiwan, said the mainland official.

Nearly 200 law experts and scholars, including 80 from Taiwan, are attending the two-day forum, themed "cross-Straits exchanges and law governance and assurance," to discuss issues regarding judicial rights, civil and commercial rights, and investors' rights.

Zhang Fusen, president of the Beijing-based Society for the Study of Law on cross-Straits Relations, addressed the opening session, calling on participants to continue to pay attention to issues regarding judicial assistance in criminal and civil cases as well as the protection of investment between the two sides.