The Mainland-Based Research Center of Cross-Strait Relations held a seminar Thursday in Beijing, discussing the relationship between China and Taiwan in the past five years since the Center's establishment and looking ahead to future work.

"The newly enacted Anti-Secession law gives full expression of China's consistent position to do its utmost with maximum sincerity for a peaceful reunification," said Wang Daohan, the honorary director of the center, in a letter addressing the seminar.

He called for all the members of the center to carefully study the law and to further improve the research work on Taiwan affairs under new circumstances.

Wang Zaixi, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council (TAOSC), made a report at the meeting, saying that "some new and positive factors that are conducive to check the 'Taiwan Independence' secessionist activities have emerged in the cross-Strait relations, and the tense situation between the two sides has developed certain signs of relaxation."

"However, the struggle against the 'Taiwan Independence' secessionist forces and their activities remains stern and complex," he said.

Commenting on the past five years' cross-Strait relations, Li Bingcai, deputy director of the TAOSC, said that the two sides have seen increasing personal, economic and cultural communication in recent years. Meanwhile, the struggles between "Taiwan Independence" and anti-"Taiwan Independence" forces have become more stark, heated and complicated.

Li said that the "Taiwan Independence" secessionist forces pose a grave threat to the peaceful and stable development of cross-Strait relations, pointing to the Taiwan authorities' pursuit of "rectification of Taiwan's name," "desinification" and "creeping independence." Taiwan authorities recklessly attacked the one-China principle, by seeking of "Constitutional reform" and "referendum."

Li called for the implementation of Chinese president Hu Jintao's four-point guideline on the development of cross-Strait relations and careful study of the newly enacted law, which demonstrated the common will and strong resolve of the entire Chinese people to safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Mainland-Based Research Center of Cross-Strait Relations was set up in Beijing in September 2000 to strengthen research on problems emerging in Taiwan and cross-strait relations.