China's top political adviser yesterday warned of the lingering dangers of Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's secessionist push for the island's de jure "independence."

"The current situation for the fight against 'Taiwan independence' is still grave and complicated," said Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"There are still dangers of secessionist forces attempting to pursue de jure independence through 'constitutional' reform."

He called for closer unity among compatriots across the Straits to curb "Taiwan independence" and promote cross-Straits peace and stability.

The top mainland official made the remarks during his meeting with Lien Chan, former chairman of Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang (KMT).

Leading a 200-member delegation of party officials, business leaders and academics, Lien flew here yesterday for the Cross-Straits Agricultural Co-operation Forum, which opens today.

Jia's warning came after Chen on Sunday urged for consideration of the "Second Republic" by freezing the island's current "constitution," and writing a new "constitution," widely seen as a fresh move to promote formal statehood for Taiwan.

Although Chen's latest proposal for changing the island's name and "territorial" definitions was condemned by Beijing and Washington, it seems the "independence"-minded leader is standing firm.

During his talks with Lien, Jia also called on Taiwan authorities to abandon policies and unreasonable restrictions that hinder cross-Straits economic and trade co-operation.

"Full and two-way three direct links (of trade, transport and postal services) and a cross-Straits economic co-operation mechanism should be set up at an early date," Jia told Lien.

Taipei has yet to lift its decades-old ban on the three direct links, citing security considerations.

Lien stressed that peace benefits both sides and the establishment of the three direct links will help realize a win-win result across the Straits.

Co-operation between the highly complementary agricultural industries of the two sides is mutually beneficial, he said.

The visit was the fourth trip to the mainland by Lien, who became the first KMT leader to visit the mainland in 56 years last April and held historic meeting with Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), to formally end the decades-old enmity between the two parties.

The one-day agricultural forum, originally scheduled to take place in Taipei in late October, had to be rescheduled because Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration refused entry to the mainland delegation.

More than 400 participants from the mainland and Taiwan are expected to attend the event.

Beijing is set to introduce more preferential policies towards Taiwan farmers at the forum in a bid to strengthen cross-Straits agricultural co-operation, officials with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council said last week.

Topics to be discussed at the forum cover challenges and opportunities facing agricultural industries across the Straits and how to more effectively promote closer agricultural co-operation between the mainland and Taiwan.

The event will be followed by an exhibition on cross-Straits agricultural co-operation achievements, which will be staged in Xiamen, Fujian Province, from October 19 to 20.