(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-29 22:33

China's Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL) said Thursday that it would work hard to strengthen relations and promote understanding across the Taiwan Strait.

"As a party made up of Taiwan people on the mainland, many members have relatives and friends on the other side of the Strait. We shall take the advantage to promote understanding and mutual trust across the Strait," said Lin Wenyi, chairwoman of the TSL Central Committee, Thursday at the ongoing TSL 8th all-league congress.

"In the future, we shall keep close contacts with Taiwan compatriots, no matter whether they are permanently or temporarily living on the mainland. We shall listen to them and help get their voices heard," she said.

In the past five years, the TSL, one of China's eight democratic parties, has received 13,000 visitors in 1,462 groups from Taiwan and organized 189 people from the mainland to visit Taiwan, Lin said in her report on the party's work.

Meanwhile, the party contributed to attracting 387 million yuan ($51.6 million) of investment from Taiwan in 63 projects on the mainland, she said.

"We also tried our best to help Taiwan compatriots on the mainland, such as tourists, businessmen and students, to solve problems," she said, adding that it has lobbied the relevant administrations to allow Taiwan graduates to work on the mainland airline companies.

The TSL was founded in Hong Kong on November 12, 1947 by a number of Taiwan personages engaged in patriotic campaigns after the February 28 Uprising of the Taiwan people that year. Now it has branches in 13 provinces and municipalities with a membership of over 2,100.

As one of the political parties to participate in state affairs, the TSL also played its role as advisor and supervisor to the ruling party, Lin said.

In the past five years TSL officials attended 1,396 seminars and meetings hosted by the CPC and governments at all levels and worked out 573 research reports on issues such as restructuring of state-owned enterprises in northeast China, she said.

The party members also submitted 2,431 proposals to the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and its local branches.

At its 8th all-league congress, opened Wednesday, the TSL will select its new league central committee and discuss a draft amendment to the TCL's Constitution.