TAIPEI, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Taiwan's deputy leader Wu Den-yih on Wednesday stressed the promotion of cross-Straits relations, saying it is vital to the island's survival and development.

Wu, who is acting chairman of the ruling Kuomintang (KMT) party, made the remarks at a meeting of the party's Central Standing Committee.

"We should have firm confidence in boosting the institutionalization of the cross-Strait ties and maintaining benign interaction between the two sides in a bid to seek sustainable stability and prosperity on the basis of adhering to the 1992 Consensus," Wu said.

The chairman noted that the results of the recent local elections in which the KMT suffered a crushing defeat cannot be regarded as the public attitude toward the cross-Strait relations development, but the authorities' drive for ties with the mainland will be affected by the change of circumstances.

Wu urged the administrative authorities to increase communication with the people and ensure the benefits of economic cooperation across the Taiwan Strait can be shared equally among the general public.