Senior official urges "most broad-based" cross-Straits exchanges

XIAMEN, May 17 (Xinhua) -- China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin on Sunday called for the "most broad-based" exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan for the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese  People's Political Consultative Conference, addresses the Straits  Forum in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, May 17, 2009.  (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)

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"We should promote the cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation to the most broad-based spheres and to the grassroots level, and encourage the involvement of the public to the maximum extent," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Jia said that quite a number of Taiwan people had yet to set foot on the mainland and invited them to pay a visit.

"We also welcome the Democratic Progressive Party (a major opposition party on the island) members to visit the mainland," he said.

Jia made the remarks while addressing the Straits Forum which opened in the southeastern coastal city of Xiamen Saturday.

A week-long event co-hosted by four cities in Fujian Province, which faces Taiwan across the sea, the forum has drawn more than 8,000 Taiwan guests and features 18 activities including a centerpiece conference, a trade fair, a cultural week, a tourism forum and a seminar on traditional Chinese medicine. It is designed to promote cross-Straits exchanges on an unofficial platform.