ISTANBUL

Former Taiwanese Leader Ma Ying-jeou said Sunday that no political power can sever the natural bond between Taipei and Beijing, according to China Daily.

Speaking at the 17th annual Straits Forum in China’s southeastern Fujian province, Ma called for greater dialogue and expanded cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.

"No political power can suppress or stop the sincere exchanges between the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Nor can it sever the natural bond and shared heritage of the Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait," Ma Ying-jeou said.

Ma emphasized that the strong connections between Fujian and Taiwan are an important resource that both sides of the Straits can jointly nurture and safeguard.

Addressing several senior Chinese Communist Party officials in Xiamen, Ma urged adherence to the “1992 Consensus” and reaffirmed his stance against Taiwan’s independence, according to Taiwan News.

The “1992 Consensus” relates to a historic meeting on cross-strait relations between semi-official representatives of China and Taiwan that year.

Ma, a member of Taiwan’s right-wing Kuomintang party, served as the country's leader from 2008 to 2016.

China considers Taiwan a "breakaway" province while Taipei has maintained its independence since 1949.