The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief, Wang Yi, extended Lunar New Year greetings to Taiwan compatriots across the world Monday.

Wang, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, extended his best wishes to Taiwan compatriots via www.chinataiwan.org.

He said Taiwan compatriots and mainlanders are "brothers and sisters of the same blood."

He expressed gratitude to Taiwan business people living and working in the mainland for their contribution to the mainland's economic development.

Wang encouraged them to seize the opportunities presented by the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and the acceleration of the transformation of the mainland's economic development pattern.

He said cross-Strait relations have achieved fruitful progress over the past year, especially with the successful signing of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement.

He extended new year greetings to Taiwan people living both on the island and overseas, expressing his hope they will contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.