A Chinese official has called for efforts to promote the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Straits.

The peaceful development of cross-Straits ties is the common wish of people on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan, said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Li made the remarks on Saturday night after the "referendum on UN membership" proposed by the Taiwan authorities failed to get enough votes from Taiwan residents.

"It once again indicates the action to seek 'Taiwan independence' is not popular," Li said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2008)