Mainland open to cross-Straits leaders summit: spokeswoman

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland remains positive and open about a possible meeting between leaders from both sides of the Taiwan Straits, a mainland spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Fan Liqing, of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on whether the cross-Straits leaders summit will be reevaluated after protests flared up in Taiwan in March over a service trade pact.

The mainland has always advocated all-round development of cross-Straits ties and that political differences between the two sides can be gradually resolved through negotiation and consultation, along with deepening exchanges in economy and culture, Fan said.

"We would like to negotiate with Taiwan on the basis of equality to settle the long-standing political differences within the framework of the one-China policy," she said, adding that non-official discussion between cross-Straits academics is encouraged.

Fan also said remarkable achievement has been made by police from the two sides in fighting crimes and mutual legal assistance, including a crackdown on telecom fraud, drug-related crime and pyramid schemes.