BEIJING -- Top political advisor Jia Qinglin Tuesday urged both sides of the Taiwan Strait to deepen economic cooperation and advance follow-up talks for a landmark cross-Strait economic pact.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks at the meeting with Chang Jung-fa, chairman of the Evergreen Group, a leading Taiwanese logistics company.

The two sides should actively push forward follow-up talks for the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) so as to benefit people on both sides and help enterprises on both sides to develop together.

Warming cross-Strait relations have boost connections between compatriots on both sides, enhanced their affections and expanded common interests, Jia said.

Peaceful development across the Strait has been proven to be the "right track" and the two sides should work together to overcome hardship, exclude interference and push cross-Strait relations along this track, he said.

The two sides are expected to improve political mutual trust while sticking to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence," he said.

Chang said he sincerely hopes cross-Strait cooperation will benefit people on both sides, adding that he believes common prosperity will be realized through joint efforts.

People from the two sides are family and Taiwanese people are certainly Chinese, he said.

The Evergreen Group will take an active part in cross-Strait economic cooperation and contribute to peaceful development, he said.