Premier Wen Jiabao said on Friday that the mainland is closely watching the secessionist activities and plots by "Taiwan independence" forces in the island, and will never allow any change of the historical fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China since ancient times.

The year of 2007 is a crucial year for mainland-Taiwan relations and the key issue is to keep peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Wen said.

Wen made the remarks at a press conference shortly after the conclusion of the annual full session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

The mainland will implement strictly the policies and measures for developing cross-Strait relations, said Wen, noting that peace and development will remain a main goal.

The two-way trade volume between the mainland and Taiwan increased to US$100 billion in 2006, with Taiwan's export to the mainland hitting US$80 billion, Wen said.

The mainland will take all efforts to protect the interests of Taiwan businessmen in the mainland as well as interests of Taiwan compatriots who come to the mainland to go to school and for sightseeing, he said.

Wen said that the mainland will endeavor to push the three " direct-links", namely mail, trade and transport links, with Taiwan, noting that the mainland will continue to facilitate charter passenger flights and cargo flights between the two sides.

Mainland travelers has been hoping to visit Taiwan for quite a long period of time, and "we really look forward to the day that this will come true," Wen said.

The peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations is a historical trend that no one can reverse, Wen said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2007)