More joint forums between the Communist Party of China and KMT will be held this year, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Li Weiyi said at a regular news briefing in Beijing February 28.

Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, speaks during a regular press conference in Beijing February 28, 2007. [Chinadaily.com.cn]

Last year two cooperative forums, the economic forum and agricultural forum were held on the mainland, contributing to trade, mutual economic development, cross-strait peace and relations and winning applause from Taiwan people, Li Weiyi said, adding that correlative sectors would start working for preparations of new forums.

As to the 60th anniversary of the "2-28 Incident", the February 28 event in Taiwan in 1947, Li said "we believe the '2-28' uprising was a patriotic democratic and autonomous campaign of Taiwanese compatriots opposing KMT's autocratic control at that time and part of Chinese people's liberation drive." Li criticized Taiwan splittist forces for their ulterior motives, distort history on this issue and attempt to stir up contradictions between the two sides.

Li appraised the direct charter flights during 2007 Spring Festival were "safe and smooth", and in consideration of Taiwanese passengers' demand for more flights and  connected cities, Beijing would strive to push the project into weekly flights and, eventually achieve all-around mutual direct flights.

In answering the question why it is a crucial year for cross-strait relations, Li reiterated Beijing was on high alert of splittists' attempts to achieve the "de jure independence" of Taiwan.