China's top political advisor, Jia Qinglin, called for more effort to develop relations across the Taiwan Straits to pave the way for achieving peaceful reunification.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remark here Saturday at a symposium marking the 20th founding anniversary of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification.

The mainland will, as always, oppose any secessionist activities and will try to maintain the "good momentum" of the development of cross-Straits relations, he said.

Jia, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the council, said enhanced efforts will be made to boost exchanges between the mainland and Taiwan and bring benefits to compatriots on both side of the Taiwan Straits.

He praised the council's contribution to the promotion of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations in the past decades.

(Xinhua News Agency september 28, 2008)