Chinese leader calls for more cross-Strait personnel exchanges

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China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Sunday called for maintaining the good momentum of people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said in a keynote speech at the fourth Straits Forum that cross-Strait exchanges have made great achievements in the past few years.

He called for deepened people-to-people exchanges of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and expand people's welfare.

Cross-Strait ties have maintained development despite some twists and turns, as the people-to-people exchanges have never suspended, Jia said. Expanding and deepening cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges is an important way to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, and the best way for mutual understanding, mutual learning and mutual benefits.

"Identifying that both sides of the Strait belong to the Chinese nation, opposing the 'Taiwan Independence' and supporting the cross-Strait exchanges and equal consultations, have become the common sense of people across the Strait and the mainstream will of people in Taiwan," said Jia at the seven-day forum focusing on grassroots exchanges.

"The 'Taiwan Independence' is an impasse, and Taiwan's future lies in the cross-Strait peaceful development and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Jia added.

He called for continued promotion of mutual understanding and feelings, improved sense of identity of one family, and consolidated common sense of supporting the development of cross-Strait ties.

Jia also urged all walks of society from the two sides of the Strait to establish extensive contacts with each other to seek cooperation opportunities and improve people's welfare.

All localities and departments of the mainland should have a better understanding of the demands of grassroots people in Taiwan, including mid- and small-sized enterprises, farmers and fishermen, Jia said, calling for expanding policies favorable to Taiwanese people amid the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.