BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The theme of peaceful development should be firmly complied in handling the cross-Straits relations, People's Daily said in a signed article to be published Monday, echoing the remarks made by Hu Jintao, the general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Hu's remarks, especially his four suggestions on peaceful development in cross-Straits relations made on April 16, have produced far-reaching impact on the progress of the cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, the checking against "Taiwan independence" activities, and the boosting of peaceful and stable development of the relations across the Taiwan Straits.

The mainland has made long-term and unremitted efforts in promoting the peaceful and stable development of the cross-Straits relations, the article said.

The mainland has always held that the belief of the mainland and Taiwan belonging to one China is the foundation to build up mutual political trust between the two sides, it said.

However, since this year, the Taiwan authorities' insistence in carrying on "Taiwan independence" policy and intensifying such activities have set obstacles in the cross-Straits cooperation and exchanges and purposely provoked new confrontation and conflicts inside Taiwan and between the two sides of the Straits, it said.

Taiwan leader's faithless action to cease the function of the "National Unification Council" and the application of the "National Unification Guidelines" (which says both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are under the sovereignty of China and the promotion of the state's reunification should be the common task of all Chinese,) is an adverse practice slammed by the compatriots from both sides of the Straits and the international community, it said.

The reason that cross-Straits relations sustained setbacks in recent years is that the "Taiwan independence" secessionist force deny the '1992 consensus' and attempt to destroy the status quo that both the mainland and Taiwan belong to one China, the commentary quoted Hu as saying.

The Taiwan authorities should carefully consider its next decisions, the article said.

To build up a peaceful development cross-Strait relations is the common aspiration of the Chinese people and the expectation of the international community, it said.

Taiwan compatriots constitute a major strength in promoting the development of the cross-Straits relations and China's reunification, and in checking the splitting activities of "Taiwan independence", it said.

The mainland has issued a series of important measures which have brought benefits to the Taiwan people for years. In the just concluded cross-Straits economic and trade forum, the mainland released a new package of beneficial policies, including the removal of taxes on imports of 11 kinds of vegetables produced by Taiwan farmers and imports of some aquatic products.

Under the other new policies, the mainland will recognize university diplomas issued in Taiwan, which generate job opportunities for Taiwan students, and Taiwan compatriots will be allowed to get licenses for medical practice on the mainland.

So long as clinging to the theme of peaceful development, the cross-Straits relations will have a bright future, the article concluded. Enditem