The June 25-28 visit of Zhang Zhijun, head of the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, to Taiwan is the first of its kind since 1949. In more ways than one, it is a landmark effort by mainland authorities to resolve cross-Straits issues in a peaceful way. Zhang's visit to Taiwan is also notable for its timing, schedule and significance.

Cross-Straits ties have improved remarkably in the past few years, which saw the resumption of direct flight, shipping and postal services between the mainland and Taiwan. Boosting this spirit, Xi Jinping, the top leader, said earlier this year that "both sides of the Straits are one family". And in February, Zhang held a formal meeting with his visiting counterpart Wang Yu-chi in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, where Wang invited him to visit Taiwan in return.

Zhang's scheduled visit to Taiwan, however, was delayed because of the protests against the Cross-Straits Service Trade Agreement on the island in March. The protests not only delayed Zhang's scheduled trip to Taiwan, but also created some uncertainty on both sides of the Straits over future developments.