The cooperation and mutual development across the Taiwan Straits is the common aspiration of people on both sides, which can be achieved only on the basis of a peaceful and stable cross-Straits relationship, a senior mainland official said Wednesday.
  
"Only when we mainland stability across the Straits, can the compatriots across the Straits help each other, seek cooperation and common benefits, and achieve mutual development," said Sun Yafu, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at the closing ceremony of the "200 Forum."
  
The one-day forum, held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, attracted 100 representatives from 18 counties and cities in Taiwan and 100 lawmakers from 28 mainland counties, cities and districts in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian provinces and Shanghai.
  
Sun described the forum as a "success," saying the participants had fully expressed their aspiration for win-win cooperation and peace, stability and development in the cross-Straits relations.
  
Over the past 20 years, personnel, cultural and economic exchanges across the Straits had deepened mutual understanding, cooperation and aspiration for mutual development, Sun said.
  
However, the compatriots across the Straits still had much to do to clear up the painful memory of 50 years of separation, overcome the 30-plus years of estrangement and recover the losses from the antagonism created by a few people over the past dozen years, he said.
  
"We should trust each other as the compatriots across the Straits belong to one family. The mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China that is the common home to people on both sides of the Straits."
  
"With the belief, we could have a foundation for mutual trust and work hard to resolve our problems as we do between family members," Sun said.
  
On this basis, he said, anyone who is to create conflict between the two sides of the Straits or attempt to break up the common home would face opposition from the people across the Straits.
  
Sun also urged efforts to promote comprehensive economic and cultural exchanges and cooperation across the Straits and the early realization of "three direct link" of trade, mail and air and shipping services, to bring more benefits to people across the Straits.
  
"We should promote cross-Straits dialogue and negotiation" on the basis of the one-China principle, which will help resolve the issue across the Straits, Sun said. 

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)