Zhang Zhijun, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, is interviewed before the opening meeting of the Fourth Session of the 12th NPC. [Photo by Zhong Nan/China Daily]

The Chinese mainland's stance on safeguarding state sovereignty and security is very firm and clear-cut, and nobody should doubt it, said Zhang Zhijun, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Cross-Straits relations have entered into a critical phase of choosing the path and direction, Zhang said in an interview before the opening meeting of the Fourth Session of the 12th NPC, the top legislature.

Whether or not to stick to the 1992 Consensus and peaceful development is of more concern to people across the Taiwan Straits, said Zhang.

The Taiwan Affairs Office sincerely hopes to carry on the peaceful road on the foundation of the 1992 Consensus and firmly opposes to any pro-independence moves, he emphasized.