With joint efforts by the compatriots from the two sides across the Taiwan Straits, positive elements that are helpful for curbing the splittist activities by the "Taiwan Independence" forces increased in the past year, said an official Friday at a press conference.

"The trend that the cross-Straits relations develop toward the direction of peace and stability has been enhanced," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

"The exchange and cooperation in such aspects as personnel, economy and culture have also moved forward," he said.

However, he said, the "Taiwan Independence" forces didn't cease their splittist activities and, as a result, the source of the tension across the Straits remained.

"The situation for the opposing and curbing of the splittist forces and their activities is still serious and complex," he said.

What deserves special attention is that the leaders of the Taiwan authorities had brought up again the timetable of its "constitutional reform", shifted its promotion strategy for and puffed its "Taiwan Independence", he said.

It's one of the most urgent tasks for the compatriots across the Straits to unswervingly curb the splittist activities and safeguard peace and stability in the cross-Straits region, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 6, 2006)