Zhang Zhijun, Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, wrapped up his four-day visit to Taiwan Saturday. During this whirlwind trip, he traveled to New Taipei City, Taichung and Kaohsiung, and met with Wang Yu-chi, the head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, exerting a positive influence across the island of Taiwan.

Zhang's Taiwan visit was distinctive in that it gave special attention to the views of the public and focused on people's livelihoods. During his journey, Zhang talked with grass-roots Taiwanese people including workers, farmers, fishermen and students.

The central government has reiterated that we should pin our hopes of resolving the Taiwan question on the Taiwanese people. However, the cross-Straits communication activities in the past few years either put excessive emphasis on formality, or underlined official exchanges more than grass-roots contact. They focused on the authorities more than civil society, the northern part more than the southern part, the pro-mainland group more than the pro-independence group.

All of these have impacted the effects of mainland communication with Taiwan to a certain extent. Therefore, we should take a down-to-earth attitude toward communicating with Taiwan.

In addition, Zhang presented an amiable and frank image instead of taking on a bureaucratic tone. Practice has shown that making friends with Taiwan compatriots and building mutual trust must be based on an equal footing, honesty and respect.

Zhang conducted all-dimensional communication with Taiwanese compatriots and sincerely listened to voices of people from all walks of life. He met with New Taipei City Mayor Chu Li-luan and Taichung Mayor Hu Chih-chiang, both from Kuomintang, and Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu from the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, and treated them equally.

Taiwan is a diverse society in which different political parties and groups hold different views. Listening carefully to their opinions is essential for the mainland to understand the will and appeals of the Taiwanese people.

There are a host of miscellaneous problems regarding the Taiwan question and it is a fundamental job to tend to grass-roots Taiwanese, who constitute the most significant force determining the development direction of the island. Peaceful development of cross-Straits relations calls for wide participation and efforts by all Taiwanese compatriots. Therefore, our policy on Taiwan should be more pragmatic and flexible.

The author is vice director and senior research fellow with the Kunlun Strategic Research Institute. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn