Members of the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs and Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission met Wednesday in Beijing to discuss the Chinese Government's white paper on the Taiwan issue. The commission is working under the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top advisory body.

Members called for clear understanding of and adherence to the one-China principle and the containment of splittist forces.

"It will help the Taiwan public to understand the stance of the central government," said Wan Guoquan, the vice-chairman of the National Committee of CPPCC.

Wan called on members to make friends with the Taiwanese to help them understand the central government's principle on the reunification.

Members spoke highly of the white paper, hailing it as an important document on the Taiwan issue following the successful returns of Hong Kong and Macao to China.

"Currently, the development of cross-Straits relations faces opportunities and challenges as the Chinese people deepen the struggle against Lee Teng-hui's 'two states' statement and as the international community adheres to the one-China policy," said Chen Zonggao, member of the commission.

"History has told us that the people across the Straits, especially the Taiwanese, had huge trade interests when the Taiwan-mainland relationship was stable," said Zhang Kehui, president of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

The total indirect trade volume between the two sides of the Straits during the past 13 years has exceeded US$160 billion; the agreed capital to be invested by Taiwan business people in the mainland has exceeded US$44 billion, of which US$24 billion has been actually used, according to the white paper on Monday.