File photo of Ma Xiaoguang, the spokesperson of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

A hotline between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan was officially put into operation on Wednesday, and chiefs of cross-Strait affairs from both sides have used it to speak to each other, said a mainland spokesperson.

During the conversation, both sides affirmed the achievements made in the past year in promoting the development of cross-Strait relations while upholding the 1992 Consensus, said Ma Xiaoguang with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office at a press conference.

Both sides have been implementing the important consensus reached in a historic meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou last month. Many achievements have been made in this regard, according to the conversation between the office's director, Zhang Zhijun, and Taiwan's mainland affairs chief, Andrew Hsia.

The mainland and Taiwan agreed to set up a hotline between the chiefs of cross-Strait affairs from both sides during the Xi-Ma meeting in Singapore on Nov. 7.

"We hope the two authorities will make efforts to maintain and promote peaceful development of cross-Strait relations on the common political basis of the 1992 Consensus in the future, and bring more benefits for people on both sides," Ma said.

Zhang and Hsia also exchanged New Year greetings during the hotline conversation, according to the spokesperson.

Ma said the hotline will facilitate communication on important cross-Strait issues to enhance mutual understanding and trust and maintain a common basis and correct direction for the development of ties.