Taiwan's leader Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the importance of  the 1992 Consensus in cross-Strait relations. The consensus is that the Mainland and Taiwan belong to the same China.

On Monday, Ma said ties are the best ever in 67 years. He credited the Consensus for 23 agreements, and over 4 million Mainland visitors to the island last year. He said the same was true for Taiwan's attendance at an international civil aviation organization meeting in 2013, the first time in  42 years.

Ma said that mutual trust has been cultivated, and that he reached consensus with Xi Jinping last year for consolidating peaceful ties and maintaining the status quo. He called on future leaders to follow the rules.