The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief said Tuesday that seeking stable development of cross-Strait ties is the "main theme" in the next stage of cross-Strait relations.

Wang Yi, director of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks during a speech at a reception for overseas Chinese and compatriots from China's mainland and Taiwan in New York.

Wang, who arrived here late Tuesday, said deepening economic cooperation is still a priority for the stable development of cross-Strait relations in the coming period.

Continuous and pragmatic efforts shall be made to promote institutionalized cross-Strait consultation, he said.

Moreover, people-to-people exchanges in such fields as culture and education shall also be enhanced in a healthy and orderly manner, he said.

During the speech, Wang said that the cross-Strait relationship is still facing many unsolved disputes and conflicts as well as new challenges.

To continuously develop cross-Strait relations, Wang said, the progressive method of "tackling easy things first, difficult things later; and economic affairs first, political affairs later" will be upheld.

Both sides need to build mutual trust, seek common ground while shelving differences and disputes and strive to create win-win results, which is a guarantee for the stable development of cross-Strait ties, Wang said.

Meanwhile, he stressed that opposing the secessionist activities of the "Taiwan independence" forces and sticking with the 1992 Consensus is the basis for building mutual trust.

"We must send a clear message: We oppose 'Taiwan independence' in various forms, and we must take a firm stand to maintain the hard-earned good situation (in cross-Strait relations)," he said.