WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese official said Wednesday that the Chinese mainland hopes to see progress in the steady development of cross-Strait relations.

The Taiwan issue is China's internal affair and should be resolved through equal consultation by Chinese across the Strait, said Wang Yi, director of China's State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, when meeting here with representatives of Taiwan compatriots living in the United States.

Wang said the improvement and development of cross-Strait relations also need the understanding and support of the international community.

The official, who is on a four-day visit to the United States, said the visit's goal is to conduct timely and necessary communication with the U.S. side on cross-Strait relations and the situation in Taiwan.

Wang said his visit was also aimed at promoting mutual understanding, expounding China's stance and concerns on issues of common concern, as well as urging the U.S. side to take appropriate actions and send positive signals on Taiwan-related issues.

This year is important as the mainland intends to make steady progress in improving cross-Strait relations, said Wang, who also heads the Communist Party of China Central Committee's Taiwan Work Office.

The official made three proposals to steadily advance the relationship.

Firstly, the two sides should consolidate the common political basis of opposing "Taiwan independence" and sticking to the "1992 consensus," wherein both sides of the Taiwan Strait adhere to the one-China principle, Wang said.

Without such consensus, it would be hard to achieve the steady and peaceful development of cross-Strait ties, he added.

Secondly, it is important to maintain the good momentum of cross-Strait exchanges in a variety of areas, promote progress in talks between the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits and the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation as well as follow-up negotiations for the cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. It is a priority to let more ordinary people benefit from the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, Wang said.

Thirdly, both sides should safeguard the mainstream public opinion in supporting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations. Whatever political party it is, it should respect and value the opinion and adopt policies in accordance with it, he said.

The official said the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations should not be taken for granted. It is the result of hard work by compatriots across the Strait, while the future development of the relationship concerns every compatriot's vital interests.

Wang said he hoped compatriots across the Strait could work together to keep cross-Strait relations on the right track and prevent any stagnation or regress of the relationship.

The Taiwan compatriots at the meeting appreciated the comprehensive development of cross-Strait relations, saying they hoped the relationship would remain stable and would not deteriorate.

The representatives insisted Taiwan should not be separated from China and the one-China principle should not be violated. They expected the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations to bring more benefits to the compatriots across the Strait and create a brighter future for national revitalization.