HANGZHOU, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Nine Taiwan industry groups in China's eastern Zhejiang Province issued a statement on Monday calling on Taiwan's leaders to abandon a proposed referendum on entering the United Nations.

The nine associations' members work in areas like Hangzhou, Shaoxing, Ningbo, Yiwu, Wenzhou and Taizhou in Zhejiang. Their statement was sent to Taiwan's leaders and major media groups.

Taiwan authorities sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in July, proposing an application to join the United Nations under the name of "Taiwan". Meanwhile, Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian has been pushing for a "referendum" on UN entry.

"Although we left our homeland to work outside, we are always concerned about Taiwan's future. We feel saddened and worried about the money-and-energy-wasting discussion on the referendum," said the statement.

"Such conduct neglects people's will and is a deviation from the fact. We have to, sincerely and desperately, make our humble voices heard and request you to be down-to-earth, to pay more attention to the life of the common people, rejuvenate Taiwan's core values and create another economic miracle," it said.

The statement concluded with four wishes: to improve the livelihood of Taiwan's people, to create a favorable atmosphere for the growth of the next generation, to seek perpetual peace and sustainable development across the Taiwan Straits, and to abandon the idea of the referendum, so as to relieve Taiwan people's fear of "an unexpected calamity".

Zhejiang Province boasts more than 6,000 Taiwan business ventures.