XIAMEN, June 16 (Xinhua) -- Top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Sunday promised that the Chinese mainland will continue "correct policies" to consolidate peaceful mainland-Taiwan ties.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks in a keynote speech at the fifth Straits Forum, which opens in the coastal city of Xiamen in southeast China's Fujian Province on Sunday.

Yu said the cross-Strait relations have improved significantly over the past five years, and the fruitful exchanges and cooperations have opened a new era of peaceful development, bringing substantial benefits to the people on both sides.

A group of new policies were announced at the forum with aims to facilitate further exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan.