Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday said peace is the common wish of the people on both sides of the strait, but Taiwan's independence is the chief culprit that is stalling unity, as he met Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun.

Cheng is the first Kuomintang (KMT) chairperson to visit China in a decade amid Beijing's efforts to ramp up military and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan to reintegrate with the mainland.

Their meeting comes ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to China in May.

China claims Taiwan as part of it and pledges to reunite it with the mainland.

"Compatriots on both sides (of the strait) are both Chinese, and we need peace, we need development, we need communication, and we need cooperation. This is a common wish," Xi said.