A Chinese mainland official Wednesday expressed hope that exchanges between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Kuomintang Party (KMT) would continue to play a unique and important role in promoting ties between the mainland and Taiwan.

Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press conference that one of the exchange activities between the two parties, the cross-Straits forum on economy, trade and culture, would again be held this year.

Fan's remarks came after a question on whether the KMT's recent personnel changes would affect exchanges with the CPC.

Fan declined to comment on the internal affairs of the KMT, but praised past efforts by the two parties to promote cross-Straits relations.

"Party-to-party exchanges have greatly boosted cross-Straits cooperation and the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties," she said.

Fan extended New Year greetings in both mainland and Taiwan dialects at the beginning of the press conference.

Taiwan media reported last week that KMT secretary-general King Pu-tsung had officially announced his resignation from the post to head up Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou's 2012 re-election campaign.

King, whose last day working for the party will be Jan. 31, is expected to be succeeded by Liao Liou-yi, incumbent secretary-general of the Taiwan leader's office, according to reports.

Ma reportedly said at a banquet Tuesday that he would never expect people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits to "draw the sword against one another".

Fan said Ma's remarks were "sincere" and "applaudable" when she was asked to comment on this statement.

The two sides of the Taiwan Strait had been making progress in the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties, Fan said.

Chinese people on both sides of the Straits should make every possible effort to avoid war, and should make joint efforts for the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and the bright future of the Chinese nation, Fan said.