BEIJING -- Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang on Monday said the political foundation for the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan relations should be strengthened.

Zhang made the remarks while participating in a panel discussion at the ongoing annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the top political advisory body.

Zhang said cross-strait cooperation and exchanges should be sustained in order to accomplish the goal of the reunification of China.

The one-China principle must be upheld and attempts to advocate "Taiwanese independence" must be opposed, said Zhang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

He also urged political advisors from the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League and the Taiwan Solidarity Union to work hard and play a more important role in realizing the peaceful reunification of the country.