BEIJING - The Communist Party of China (CPC) will not engage in inter-party contact with Taiwan's opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) unless it ceases its pursuit of "Taiwanese independence," a mainland spokesman said on Friday.

"We hope the DPP can respond to the will of compatriots across the Taiwan Strait and change its 'Taiwan independence' stance of 'one country on each side' so as to make its due efforts to stabilize the region's situation and promote compatriots' interests," Yang Yi, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a press conference.

Yang said it was explicitly stated in the report of the just concluded 18th CPC National Congress that, "We are ready to conduct exchanges, dialogue and cooperation with any political party in Taiwan as long as it does not seek 'Taiwan independence' and recognizes the one-China principle."

"We welcome people from the DPP to conduct exchanges and visits in the mainland in the proper capacity," he added.