BEIJING, April 16 -- Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Sunday said adhering to the "1992 consensus" is the vital foundation for peace and development across the Taiwan Straits.

The "1992 consensus" refers to the common belief that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.

At a meeting with Honorary Chairman Lien Chan of the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT) party, Hu said that though China is not reunified yet, the fact that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China has not changed, and the bonds of flesh and blood between compatriots on both sides of the strait have not changed.

He recalled that 14 years ago it was based on the above-mentioned common understanding and their wish to seek common ground while shelving differences that the two sides reached the "1992 consensus," which resulted in the "Wang-Koo Talks" in 1993.

The "Wang-Koo Talks" refers to the landmark meeting in 1993 between Wang Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF), in Singapore in April 1993. It was the first ever high-level, non-governmental talks across the Taiwan Straits.

"It was also based on such a consensus that the CPC and KMT put out last year a series of measures for peace across the Straits and the benefits of people on both sides of the Straits," Hu said.

He said the reason that cross-Straits relations sustained setbacks in recent years is that some people deny the "1992 consensus" and attempt to destroy the status quo that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China.

Facts have shown that only by adhering to the "1992 consensus" can both sides of the Straits realize peace, development and common prosperity, and only rejection of "Taiwan independence" can remove the major threat to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, Hu said.

In his second suggestion to boost cross-Straits relations, Hu said, "it's the ultimate goal to seek interests for the people across the Taiwan Straits when we are working for peaceful development in cross-Strait relations."

A leader and a political party should always put the people's interests first, he said, adding that he has said on several occasions that the mainland would take seriously everything that concerns the interests of the Taiwan compatriots and carry out earnestly all commitments made to them.

"I'd like to take the opportunity to repeat solemnly that we will faithfully carry out all the commitments we have made to the Taiwan compatriots," he said.

Thirdly, a mutually complementary and beneficial relationship is the effective way for realizing peaceful development across the Straits, said Hu.

The booming non-governmental cooperation across the Straits over the past more than 20 years has resulted in a mutually complementary and beneficial situation in general. Under such circumstances, the interests of the compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits has been closely related.

Deepening cross-Straits trade and economic cooperation is a major issue that concerns the future of development and the people's benefits of both sides, he said.

Referring to the so-called "marginalization" of Taiwan, Hu said,the key is that some people in Taiwan should not "marginalize themselves."

"We will take active measures to realize the 'three direct links (in mail, transport and trade)' at an early date, strengthen cross-Straits agricultural cooperation and educational exchanges, create conditions for mainland residents to travel in Taiwan as early as possible, and provide more job opportunities for our Taiwan compatriots."

Fourthly, Hu said, equal consultation is the only way to achieve peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

"We always maintain that both sides of the Taiwan Straits should take a far-sighted and constructive attitude in dialog and negotiations to resolve their disputes and problems," he said.

Hu recalled the consensus he reached with Lien in their first meeting last year, and said "we (the CPC and KMT) should make joint efforts for the re-opening of equal consultation across the Straits on the basis of the '1992 consensus' as soon as possible."

"As long as we begin the consultation, we could discuss all issues that Taiwan compatriots care about in a practical manner, so as to open up ways for peaceful development across the Straits," Hu said.