The two sides should further develop their relations and handle complicated and sensitive problems well by bearing in mind the interests of both compatriots across the Strait and the Chinese nation, he said.

The two sides should continue to "build mutual trust, lay aside disputes, seek consensus and shelve differences," he said.

Jia Qinglin (1st R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, shakes hands with Hsu Li-nung (2nd R) during his meeting with a delegation of retired generals from Taiwan led by Hsu, in Beijing, China, April 7, 2010.

Jia called on the two sides to steadily push forward consultation, expand exchanges, and reach more consensus to provide a sustainable driving force for the development of cross-Strait relations.