A symposium on cross-Strait relations is held in Hong Kong on Saturday.

Initiated by the Taiwan Reform Foundation (TRF) and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the symposium is the first of its kind jointly held by the Taiwan-based TRF and a mainland research institute, Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said at a press conference earlier in Beijing.

Giving a speech at the symposium, Sun Yafu, head of the mainland-based Research Center for Relations across the Taiwan Strait, said although there are many differences between the mainland and Taiwan, both sides should focus on removing cross-strait divergences.

He stressed that in order to reach a consensus based on mutual trust, it is essential for the two sides to acknowledge that mainland and Taiwan are not two countries, and to express the attitude avoiding the two sides to split into two countries.

Frank Hsieh Chang-ting, chairman of the TRF said there is a trend that communications cross the Taiwan Strait is getting more and more frequent. The mainstream of Taiwan people is looking forward to continuous exchanges of economy, trade and culture between the two sides.

Both sides should respect the current situation while strengthen mutual trust, he said, adding that the problems should be solved with wisdom and creativity.

More than 50 researchers on cross-Strait relations from the mainland the Taiwan attended the seminar, which will be closed on Sunday. Endi