A symposium aimed to promote cooperation in agriculture, fishery and water resources between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan was held in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province on Sunday morning.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources Cooperation Symposium was attended by Jia Qinglin, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau.

James Soong, chairman of the Taiwan-based People First Party and Yok Mu-ming, chairman of the Taiwan-based New Party, were also present at the meeting.

Jia, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, addressed the meeting, saying the symposium was "a very meaningful exchange activity for the two sides."

He said the cooperation in agriculture and fishery fields play an important role for the promotion of the two sides' economic relation development.

In the past 20 years, mainland-Taiwan coordination in these two fields had been greatly enhanced by the joint efforts of compatriots from both sides, Jia said.

The two sides also saw a broad prospect for cooperation in flood prevention and control, water resources management, water and soil conservation and environmental protection issues, he said.

As global climate change was intensified and major disasters happened frequently in recent years, it was a common issue for both sides to prevent natural disasters and achieve sustainable development, Jia said.

When disasters came, people on the two sides of the Taiwan Straits cared for and supported each other, showing a great feeling of kinship in sharing weal and woe, Jia said, referring to the earthquake that hit Sichuan Province in May last year and the typhoon-caused floods in Taiwan this summer.

"The mainland has paid great attention to the island's reconstruction work, and is willing to continue providing any assistance," Jia said.

He also said the cross-Straits relation had witnessed a historic turning point in May last year and entered a peaceful development track as a result of concerted efforts of compatriots on both sides.

An improved mainland-Taiwan relation was in line with the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides and accorded with the basic interest of the whole Chinese nation.

"The two sides should cherish the good momentum, continue to promote mutual development and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Jia said.

James Soong said the adherence to "One China" was the precondition to set up a peaceful framework for the two sides.

"'Taiwan independence' will seriously jeopardize the peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and Asia-Pacific region," Soong said.

He called for the two sides to build a cooperative mechanism, in which they would not only shoulder hardships together but also share prosperity, to make a real "community".

The symposium was co-sponsored by 10 NGOs from both the mainland and Taiwan. More than 220 officials, experts and representatives from agriculture and fishery circles joined the meeting.

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