KUNMING -- A senior Chinese mainland official responsible for Taiwan affairs said the mainland and Taiwan should be united to maintain the nation's overall interests.

Wang Yi, director of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks at a symposium on cross-Strait economic cooperation and cultural exchanges on Sunday.

Wang reiterated that the future of the mainland and Taiwan are forever linked, and no matter what disagreements exist between the two sides, people from both sides should look beyond their differences to oppose any move that harms the nation's basic interests.

"Faced with the deep adjustment of the international situation, both sides should further cooperation in order to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and maintain stability across the Taiwan Strait," Wang said.

Honorary chairman of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party Lien Chan and KMT Vice Chairman Lin Feng-cheng also attended the symposium.