China announced Sunday that it will resume some cross-strait ties suspended in recent years, including direct flights to additional mainland cities and imports of Taiwanese aquaculture products.

The Taiwan Work Office under the Communist Party issued the statement following a meeting on Friday between President Xi Jinping and Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party. The high-profile encounter marked the first between the two parties' leaders in nearly a decade and came amid calls for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Among the measures, China plans to expand direct flights beyond current routes to include cities such as Xi'an and Urumqi. It also pledged to facilitate imports of Taiwanese grouper fish, squid, tuna, pineapples, and other fruits and seafood previously banned since 2021. Beijing further aims to ease restrictions on individual Chinese travelers to Taiwan, halted in 2019, and explore a longstanding communication mechanism between the Communist Party and the KMT.

Additional pledges include advancing a bridge project linking the mainland to Taiwan-controlled Matsu and Kinmen islands, which lie close to China's coast. These steps form part of a broader 10-point package to boost exchanges and allow Taiwanese residents to participate in mainland economic development.

The moves address ties severed after Taiwan elected President Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party in 2016. Beijing halted most official dialogue, imposed trade bans citing safety issues, and intensified military flights and naval patrols near the island, which it claims as its territory despite Taiwan's self-rule.

Taiwan's government stated it would continue supporting farmers and businesses in diversifying export markets to mitigate risks from reliance on China. Currently, Chinese visitors to Taiwan must hold visas from third countries like the U.S. or the EU.

No specific timeline for implementation was provided, leaving details on execution unclear. The announcement reflects outreach to Taiwan's main opposition party ahead of potential political shifts, as cross-strait relations remain tense with ongoing Chinese military activities.