BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Hu Jintao, general secretary of theCentral Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Thursday called upon the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to strengthen mutual trust and forge closer ties when meeting the visiting Chairman James CY Soong of the People First Party (PFP) in Taiwan here.

    Hu said that "the compatriots on both sides of the Straits are all Chinese" and the 23-million Taiwan compatriots are "our flesh-blood brothers", who serve as a major force in developing the cross-Straits relations and containing the pro-independence separatist activities in Taiwan, he noted.

    "Under all circumstances, we must respect, trust and rely upon them, have their interests at heart by putting ourselves in their shoes and try our utmost to consider and safeguard their legitimate rights and interests."

    Hu said it is understandable that Taiwan compatriots love Taiwan, just as the mainlanders love their own hometown and earth.

    "We are sympathetic with the miseries Taiwan compatriots had suffered in the past, and understand their mentality that has taken shape under specific historical circumstances," Hu said, adding that "we will carefully figure out and take into account the wishes of Taiwan compatriots, and better understand about their demands."

    Hu said, "we oppose any words and deeds that wantonly bespatterthe people on the mainland and provoke and aggravate confrontationbetween the two sides of the Straits.

    "We'll take practical measures to promote exchanges and cooperation between the people on both sides of the Straits, remove misunderstanding, develop mutual trust, love and support each other and accumulate consensus so as to work together with one heart for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," he said. Enditem