Beijing’s Taiwan affairs chief urged members of the island’s media to contribute to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.

At the Cross-Strait Media Summit on Thursday, Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, said media professionals on both sides should “fulfill their social responsibilities, strengthen mutual understanding between compatriots on both sides and build a shared consensus that both sides are Chinese.”

“(They) should continue to make new contributions to the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations,” he said.

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Chinese President Xi visits Taiwan-facing island after PLA blockade drills

Chinese President Xi visits Taiwan-facing island after PLA blockade drills

The mainland state’s Xinhua News Agency said more than 110 media representatives and academics from both sides of the Strait attended the event, which was themed “The integration and development of media across the strait in a new landscape.

Meeting with Taiwan media representatives Thursday afternoon, Song said media from both sides should adhere to objective reporting and fair commentary and “firmly promote cross-Strait exchanges and integrated development, as well as make advance the reunification of the motherland,” according to Xinhua.