BEIJING — Premier Li Keqiang pledged on March 20 to promote peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and oppose any attempt for “Taiwan independence”.

The mainland always works to ensure that people from Taiwan will enjoy the same treatment as mainlanders when they come to work, study and live here, he said at a press conference after the conclusion of the annual legislative session. “We are one family.”

The mainland will never tolerate any attempts, propositions or acts for “Taiwan independence,” he said. “Nor will we tolerate attempts of any external force to use Taiwan as a card to cause difficulties for cross-Straits relations and the people on both sides.”

The mainland is ready to have dialogue and consultation with all political parties and groups in Taiwan who recognize the 1992 Consensus embodying the one-China principle to discuss issues that concern the people on both sides.

“We are working for peaceful development of cross-Straits relations to eventually achieve peaceful reunification, he said. “That represents the fundamental interests of our nation.”