国内英语新闻:CPC calls for further pushing forward peaceful development of cross-straits relations

BEIJING, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has called for beefing up efforts to further push forward peaceful development of relations between the mainland and Taiwan.

    A meeting on Taiwan work, held from Friday through Saturday, pointed out that major breakthrough had been made in development of relations across the Taiwan Straits in 2008.

    The meeting urged doing solid job to further push forward development of cross-Straits relations and the process of cross-Straits consultations, continuing the progressive method of easy things first, difficult things later; and economic affairs first, political affairs later.

    It urged consolidating the political bases that the two sides both oppose "Taiwan independence" and adhere to the "1992 Consensus", to maintain the momentum of the improving cross-Straits relations.

    It urged vigorously beefing up economic exchanges and cooperation, fully realizing direct transport, postal and trade links, striving for normalization of economic relations and working for institutionalizing economic cooperation.

    It orders taking effective measures to help Taiwan businesses on the mainland to overcome difficulties, implementing a series of policies that benefit Taiwan compatriots, beefing up cooperation in dealing with the international financial crisis.

    It also urged vigorously pushing forward all-round exchanges, with emphasis on promoting cultural and educational exchanges and involving more Taiwan people in cross-Straits exchanges.

    Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting and made a speech. Jia, who is also Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged following the guidelines put forward by CPC Central Committee General Secretary Hu Jintao on Taiwan work.

    The meeting was presided over by State Councilor Dai Bingguo. The Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee director Wang Yi delivered a work report at the meeting.