Premier Wen Jiabao Saturday called on the Chinese mainland and Taiwan to "discard past enmity and face the future" to tackle the financial crisis and seek common prosperity.

Wen made the remarks when meeting with Fredrick Chien, chief advisor of Taiwan's Cross-Straits Common Market Foundation, in the southern province of Hainan on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the Boao Forum for Asia.

"Under the present severe international economic situation, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits should firmly adhere to the peaceful development orientation of cross-Straits relations, face the future, discard past enmity, and join hands and move forward with close cooperation," Wen said.

Wen told Chien that the mainland has approved concrete measures to promote cross-Straits economic cooperation and tackle the financial crisis together with Taiwan.

The mainland will promote investment in Taiwan, encourage mainlanders to visit the island, make more purchases of Taiwan goods and encourage Taiwan enterprises to tap the mainland market, Wen said.

He said the two sides should negotiate to set up an economic cooperation mechanism that serves the demand of cross-Straits economic growth.

The mainland hopes Taiwan will take measures to facilitate mainland enterprises' investment on the island and open its market to mainland products, Wen said.

"We hope cross-Straits relations will see continuous peaceful development and the two sides can enjoy common prosperity. We have such a hope with an eye to seeking the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Wen stressed.

The two sides should "grasp the hard-won historical opportunity" and make step-by-step progress in cross-Straits consultations, Wen said.

He added the two sides should discuss and solve political and military issues in a pragmatic approach under the "One China" principle.

Chien said he completely agrees with the proposition on peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, which he believes is welcomed by most people in Taiwan.

(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2009)