A senior Chinese mainland official on Wednesday urged media organizations across the Taiwan Strait to cover more stories on cross-Strait relations and report news events in an objective and comprehensive manner.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks in a meeting with a group of Taiwan media representatives led by Chiang Pin-kung, chairman of the island's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF).

Media organizations play an irreplaceable role in promoting information exchanges, helping people on both sides better understand each other and eliminating estrangement, Jia said.

In light of the bright prospect of the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, media exchanges between the two sides are facing unprecedented opportunities, he said.

Jia called for an early establishment of resident media bureaus on both sides and closer cooperation between news organizations to promote traditional Chinese culture.

He encouraged the staff of the media industry to seek common ground while shelving differences.

On behalf of the SEF and the people in Taiwan, Chiang expressed gratitude for the mainland's donations and assistance after the island was hit by Typhoon Morakot in August.

Mainland's donations, which were transferred to Taiwan mainly through the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS), will be used for reconstruction in Taiwan, Chiang said.

Chiang also stressed the need for media at both sides to carry out further communication and cooperation.

According to Jia, the ARATS and the SEF had initially agreed to have the fourth round of talks in Taiwan's Taichung in mid or late December.

(Xinhua News Agency October 28, 2009)