Full coverage: Cross-Strait Peaceful Development Forum

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has met with a delegation led by Hung Hsiu-chu, leader of Taiwan’s Kuomintang Party in Beijing. Hung is also expected to attend the Cross-Strait Peace Forum scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.

Upon arriving at the Beijing International Airport on Monday, Hung was received by Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.

"It is a bit chilly here in Beijing. But it doesn’t matter. Our hearts are warm. The cold weather doesn’t matter," Hung said.

Xi Jinping (R), general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation led by Hung Hsiu-chu, leader of Taiwan's Kuomintang (KMT) Party, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 1, 2016. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

Tuesday afternoon, Xi met with the delegation led by Hung, at the Great Hall of the People. Xi says both parties should consolidate the common political foundation of the "1992 Consensus," which commits to the One-China principle. Also, the two parties should maintain the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, cooperate and commit to the revival of the Chinese nation.

Before the meeting, Hung chose to spend time with young entrepreneurs. She visited Zhonguancun, a technology hub in Beijing, and talked with young people from Taiwan who have started up businesses on the mainland.

"The start-up groups in the mainland are very down-to-earth and developed, which helps to stimulate the spirit of our Taiwan groups," said Li Qiaoru, a young entrepeneur from Taiwan.

Over the past two decades, cross-strait relations have improved significantly, thanks to a series of historic meetings.

In November 2015, Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou, the top leaders of both parties, held a historic face-to-face meeting in Singapore. It was the first meeting between the leaders of the two parties since 1949. During the meeting, they fully acknowledged the fruits of the peaceful development of cross-strait ties since 2008.

For Hung’s visit this time, the primary aim is to deepen interaction between the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang, in accordance with the common political foundation of the 1992 Consensus and help improve cross-Straits relations.