CHICAGO - A senior Chinese official on Taiwan affairs said on Friday more gains of cross-Straits exchanges should be accumulated in a bid to benefit more people in Taiwan.

"In the new phase of the peaceful development of cross-Straits ties, we hope the fruits reaped from their sound development could bring benefits to more Taiwan compatriots, especially to the broad mass," said Wang Yi, director of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, when meeting representatives of Taiwan people living in the United States.

"In order to achieve this goal, we will continue to actively promote cross-Straits exchanges in various areas to accumulate more fruits from cooperation so that more people in Taiwan can benefit, " he said.

Wang, who was on a four-day visit to the United States, said 2011 was an important year, inheriting the past and ushering in the future in the development of cross-Straits relations.

Wang said both sides needed to make joint efforts to maintain the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

He said it was of vital importance the two sides firmly stuck to and consolidated the political basis of opposing "Taiwan independence" and upholding the "1992 Consensus."

Both sides of the Taiwan Straits agree to adhere to the one-China principle under the 1992 Consensus.

Wang urged compatriots across the Straits to work together to prevent any stagnation or regress of the relationship.

Wang said the future of the relationship was something compatriots across the Straits needed to think about.

"We need to observe the intrinsic law for the development of the cross-Straits relations with an eye to the benefits and welfare of compatriots across the Straits," he said.

Wang said peaceful development would help realize the peaceful reunification of the motherland and create a brighter future for China's national revitalization.