The second formal meeting between the chiefs of cross-Strait affairs from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan in Taoyuan on Wednesday is significant for pushing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations to a new level.

Zhang Zhijun is the first director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office to cross the Taiwan Strait, also known as Black Ditch, and set foot on the island.

The meeting was made less than five months after Wang Yu-chi, director of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, visited the mainland in February.

Zhang's trip, which completed mutual visits, is also meaningful because it is an important step in implementing the agreement on a regular communication mechanism set down during their first formal meeting.

Mutual visits indicate consolidated mutual trust. The reciprocal visits, which have been arranged amid consolidated mutual political trust overall, reflect the positive and constructive attitude taken by both sides to continuously deepen mutual understanding, enhance mutual trust and reach consensus.

Wednesday's meeting is not merely symbolic for Taiwan, it brings notable fruits.

During the two-hour coming-together of Zhang and Wang, they agreed to push forward follow-up agreements to the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, explore practical ways to jointly develop their economy, and join in regional cooperation.

The two sides will also try to settle issues concerning mainland travelers' transfer trips via Taiwan and further facilitating cross-Strait personnel exchanges.

These agreements manifest that the meeting, a high-level cross-Strait communication platform, is functioning. It can be compared to a new bridge of communication that has been opened to traffic.

Moreover, as a historic affair, it raises the curtain of a new stage for the beneficial interaction between both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The aspirations of people and compatriots on both sides are the source of confidence and responsibility. As Zhang said during the meeting, "the overall situation of cross-Strait relations has been stable and new progress has been made this year."

"Despite some new circumstances, the direction of peaceful development of cross-Strait ties has not changed, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have not been suspended," he went on.

Zhang added the fundamental reason for these trends is that promoting peaceful development of ties is the mainstream opinion of both sides.

The mutual visits contribute to these developments. And the mechanism will facilitate policy communication and help appropriately handle important issues in cross-Strait relations.

The Zhang-Wang meeting shows to the world the determination and wisdom of Chinese on both sides of the Strait in being jointly committed to solving both historical and current issues.

Their meetings went from early spring to early summer, and the compatriots on both sides are looking forward to a more fruitful autumn.