A senior Chinese mainland official said Thursday the mainland will strengthen the exchange with various parties, groups and personages in Taiwan to jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

"The peaceful development of cross-Strait relations has become the common wish and mutual benefits of people both in China's mainland and Taiwan," said Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

There are major positive changes in the situation in Taiwan with the joint efforts of compatriots across the Strait, said Chen, also director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

To improve cross-Strait relations provides a precious opportunity for both sides of the Taiwan Strait, the official said.

"We hope that people on both sides bear in mind the well-being of compatriots across the Strait and the interests of Chinese nation as a whole," Chen said.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)