Chinese President Xi Jinping joins a group deliberation of deputies from Shanghai to the annual session of the National People's Congress in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2016. [Photo: Xinhua/Ju Peng]

President Xi Jinping has warned against efforts that aim for "Taiwan independence."

While addressing a group of lawmakers from Shanghai, the president said the government will resolutely contain "Taiwan independence" activities and safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Our policy toward Taiwan is clear and consistent, and it will not change along with the change in Taiwan's political situation. We will adhere to the 1992 Consensus as a political foundation, and continuously advance the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties."

In light of the island's recent leadership elections, Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, says relations across the Taiwan Straits are facing a crucial moment.

"We are facing the choice of the choosing the road and direction of cross-Straits relations. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has repeatedly showed the attitude of the Chinese mainland; we sincerely hope that both sides of the straits will stick to the 1992 Consensus in order to achieve peaceful development and benefit people across the straits."

In the meantime, Chen Deming, leader of the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, voiced support for exchanges between youth on both sides.

"People-to-people exchanges across the Straits ultimately come down to the younger generation. The youth in Taiwan need communication (with the mainland) to be clear on some points, especially on the concept of country and national identity, 20 years since the curriculum in Taiwan was revised."

The officials also voiced their resolution to promote all-round cooperation with Taiwan.