(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-21 11:41

China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin Monday met in Beijing with more than 400 youngsters from the Chinese mainland, Taiwan Province, Hong Kong and Macao attending activities to welcome the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Jia Qinglin (L) shakes hands with a delegate during a meeting with youths from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan Province in Beijing, August 20, 2007. The youths from both sides of the Taiwan Straits were attending a communicating activity for welcoming the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in Beijing. [Xinhua]

"The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is a great and happy event for Chinese in the mainland and Taiwan," said Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He encouraged young people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to strengthen exchanges and join hands to oppose "Taiwan independence" secessionist activities.

Invited by the Cross-Straits Relations Research Center and the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits, the young people will visit the Olympic stadiums and gymnasiums and have parties with the Olympic gold winners from August 20 to 22.