The fact that large numbers of Taiwan compatriots have traveled to the mainland city of Xiamen to attend the 12th Straits Forum despite various difficulties demonstrates that no force can stop people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, China's top political advisor Wang Yang said on Sunday.

Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks when addressing the forum via video link.

People from both sides of the Straits have shown their sincerity and eagerness for exchanges despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the obstruction by some forces in Taiwan, he said.

Mainland officials have repeatedly criticized attempts by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities to hinder cross-Straits exchanges.

Launched in 2009, the Straits Forum is the largest annual event across the Taiwan Straits, focusing on people-to-people exchanges. Nearly 2,000 Taiwan compatriots are attending this year's forum, which began on Saturday.

In his speech, Wang stressed that exchanges benefit both Taiwan and the mainland, whereas isolation harms both sides.

Trade across the Straits has maintained double-digit growth since the start of the year despite the global economic hardship, which demonstrates that the mainland has always been the strongest backing for Taiwan, he said.

Cross-Straits trade volume from January to August totaled 158.93 billion U.S. dollars, up 10 percent year on year, according to the mainland's customs authorities.

Mainland exports to Taiwan were 37.73 billion dollars, up 8.11 percent year on year, while mainland imports from Taiwan reached 121.2 billion dollars, up 10.6 percent year on year.

A recent survey showed that the majority of Taiwan people favor friendly relations across the Strait. According to the survey by the Grassroots Influence Foundation last month, 64 percent of respondents agreed that Taiwan should maintain friendly relations with the mainland while only 15 percent supported the idea that the island should compete with and confront the mainland. Wang also warned against attempts to seek "Taiwan independence," calling it a "dead-end".

Wang reiterated the mainland's position on promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations on the basis of the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, adding that the mainland aims to enhance the kinship and wellbeing of compatriots on both sides.

He said the mainland would continue to promote exchanges and cooperation across the Straits and help young people from Taiwan realize their dreams on the mainland.

He called on compatriots on both sides to shoulder the historical responsibility of achieving national reunification and rejuvenation.

Read more:

Xi Jinping addresses people of Taiwan, calls for joint endeavors to seek national reunification

Liu Jieyi, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made a similar call on Saturday. When visiting a district in Xiamen and holding discussions with Taiwan youth representatives in Fujian Province, Liu encouraged them to make contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

This year's forum features 46 exchange activities on various topics, including the economy, culture, youth, and other relevant subjects such as COVID-19 prevention and control, public health, and resumption of work and production.

(With input from Xinhua)