DAKAR, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese political advisor on Sunday called on overseas Chinese to unite and work for the cause of peaceful national reunification.

    Liu Yiming, head of a visiting delegation of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CPPNR), made the remarks at a meeting in Dakar with Chinese nationals living in Senegal.

    Realizing peaceful national reunification is an arduous task and all Chinese at home and abroad have to shoulder heavy responsibilities, said Liu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top advisory body.

    He urged Chinese people living in Senegal to learn about President Hu Jintao's talk on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the mainland's "Message to Compatriots in Taiwan" and work to boost exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

    Liu said he hoped the overseas Chinese would firmly oppose all attempts to separate China, as well as any activities seeking "Taiwan independence" and "Tibet independence."

    Li Jicai, head of the Chinese Association of Senegal and the CPPNR in Senegal, said the Chinese here will strengthen interaction with compatriots in West African countries to make due efforts to promote the peaceful reunification of China.

    Prior to their visit to Senegal, Liu and his delegation attended the second council meeting of the CPPNR in West Africa in Lagos, the economic center of Nigeria, last Wednesday.