Yu Zhengsheng (front, C), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, poses for a group photo with representatives of trade union circles of southeast China's Taiwan while meeting with them in Beijing, capital of China, April 17, 2013. The representatives are here to attend the 2013 cross-Strait trade union forum. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

BEIJING -- Senior Chinese mainland official Yu Zhengsheng on Wednesday praised the contribution of trade unions across the Taiwan Strait, saying they helped with the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan ties.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks while meeting with representatives from Taiwan's trade union circles.

During the meeting, Yu congratulated the successful holding of the 2013 cross-Strait trade union forum in Beijing on Tuesday, which his guests had attended.

Yu, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said trade unions and workers were an important force for promoting peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan ties.

He said he hoped that trade unions on both sides would use their strengths in connecting with workers and arouse more support for the growing cross-Strait relations.