The Chinese mainland will continue to strengthen cross-Straits economic cooperation with Taiwan to jointly respond to the global financial crisis, Premier Wen Jiabao said on Thursday morning.

Addressing nearly 3,000 lawmakers at the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress, Wen said in his government work report the mainland would actively promote financial cooperation across the Taiwan Straits, and support the development of Taiwan-funded enterprises on the mainland.

"We will accelerate normalization of cross-Straits economic relations and facilitate the signing of a comprehensive agreement on economic cooperation, and gradually establish economic cooperation mechanisms tailored to both sides of the Straits," he said.

His words underscored warming ties across the Taiwan Straits over the past year, which saw the realization of direct post service as well as direct maritime and air links across the Taiwan Straits.

The premier pledged to strengthen industrial and agricultural cooperation between both sides, and support economic development on the west coast of the Taiwan Straits, including Fujian and other provinces, where Taiwan investment is concentrated.

Acknowledging major breakthroughs in cross-Straits relations in 2008, Wen said the mainland would remain committed to the goal of peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

"Cross-Straits relations have embarked on the track of peaceful development (in 2008)," Wen said.

The mainland was ready to make fair and reasonable arrangements through consultation on the issue of Taiwan's participation in the activities of international organizations on the basis of the One China principle, he said.