China will work on Taiwan-related matters so as to promote peaceful and stable development of cross-Straits relations, a senior official said Tuesday.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a meeting of the Taiwan Affairs Office directors from all over the country.

"We will firmly adhere to the fundamental policies of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems,' the eight-point proposal on developing cross-Straits relations, and the four-point guideline on cross-Straits relations put forward by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)," he said.

Jia said "we have adopted a series of measures benefiting Taiwan compatriots. People exchanges across the Taiwan Straits have intensified and cross-Straits economic cooperation has been further strengthened."

The two sides' joint efforts for common development are deeply engraved in people's hearts, he said, adding this is a fundamental interest of Taiwan compatriots and beneficial to the long-term development of the Chinese nation.

Jia stressed people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits are brothers, "we will try our utmost to do everything beneficial to Taiwan compatriots and promote cross-Straits exchanges."

"We will push forward exchanges of personnel, and economic and cultural exchanges; we will publicize policies on issues close to Taiwan compatriots' hearts and we will protect their legitimate rights and interests; we will properly handle issues concerning Taiwan compatriots' immediate interests," he stated.

"We hope more Taiwan compatriots will invest on the Chinese mainland or expand their businesses here, so as to boost common development and provide benefits for people across the Taiwan Straits," he said.

He urged governments at various levels to provide help and services to Taiwan compatriots.

He expressed his hope that "non-governmental organizations can have discussions and reach consensus on chartered cargo and passenger flights."

"We hope the two sides can implement a consensus simultaneously to satisfy the strong demand of Taiwan compatriots especially those in Taiwan's industrial and commercial circles," he said, adding "we'll continue to promote the 'three direct links' for the two sides."

He called on the directors to implement the consensus reached by the CPC, and the Taiwan-based Chinese Kuomintang and People First Party and continue to develop cross-Straits talks on the basis of the 1992 Consensus.

"2006 is the beginning of China's 11th Five-Year Guideline (2006-2010), so properly handling Taiwan-related matters is a priority", stressed Jia Qinglin.

A few days ago, while holding talks with Taiwan businessmen in Xiamen, in east China's Fujian Province, Hu Jintao delivered a major speech on implementing the "three direct links" and strengthening economic exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Jia asked the directors to carefully study Hu's speech and carry out the tasks on the Taiwan agenda, in order to stabilize the cross-Straits situation, create a sound environment for China's development, and make fresh contributions to the development of cross-Straits relations and the reunification of the motherland.

(Xinhua News Agency January 19, 2006)