BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's mainland welcomes all positive efforts to promote peace across the Taiwan Strait, Fan Liqing, the new spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, told a press conference here Wednesday.

    "Positive efforts by any people and any party in Taiwan for opposing 'Taiwan independence' and promoting peaceful development of cross-strait ties are appreciated and encouraged," she said.

    Peace and development should be the main themes for cross-strait relations, the official stressed, in reply to a question on the recent advertisement published in Taiwan-based media by Robert Tsao, chairman of Taiwan's United Microelectronics Corp.

    The spokeswoman told the press conference that the mainland has always promoted bilateral financial exchange and cooperation.

    To date, mainland authorities have given approval to two Taiwan-funded life insurance companies and one Taiwan-funded property insurance firm to operate on the mainland. Also, 14 Taiwan-based insurance companies have been allowed to open 17 offices on the mainland, the official said.