XIAMEN - Peaceful development of cross-Strait ties has become a common aspiration for people across the Taiwan Strait, said a vice chairman of Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang (KMT) Party on Sunday.

Lin Fong-cheng made the remarks while addressing the fifth Straits Forum in the coastal city of Xiamen, where thousands of delegates from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan have gathered to discuss grassroots exchanges and cooperation.

"People from both sides are expected to cooperate to overcome difficulties so as to deepen the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," said Lin.

He labeled the forum a platform enabling more cross-Strait communication among grassroots people from all walks of life to seek more opportunities to cooperate.

"Playing an important role in people-to-people exchanges across the Strait, the forum will lay a solid foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," Lin added.

Based on mutual trust and working for the well-being of people on both sides, there is much room in cross-Strait ties for financial and cultural exchanges, as well as development in international activities and cooperation on the relationship's challenging issues, according to the KMT vice chairman.

During a meeting with Lin, Zhang Zhijun, head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, expressed his hope that more people could participate in cross-Strait communication, with both sides deepening mutually-beneficial cooperation and enhancing common interests.