MACAO, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief Wang Yi Wednesday urged to cherish the hard-won improved relations between the two sides across the Taiwan Strait.

    Wang, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks at a symposium on Macao-Taiwan relations.

    "At present, cross-Strait relations have embarked on the track of peaceful development," he said. "Although we'll encounter obstruction and challenges in the future, the tendency of peaceful development couldn't be blocked or reversed."

    As long as compatriots on both sides adhere to the correct orientation, make concerted efforts, and get rid of disturbance, the two sides could continue to create new momentum for peaceful development of ties, he said.

    Wang, also head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, acknowledged Macao's special role in pushing forward development of mainland-Taiwan ties.

    He promised to support the government of Macao Special Administrative Region to properly handle Taiwan affairs and give support to various circles in the region to promote non-government Macao-Taiwan exchanges and cooperation.