A Chinese mainland official spoke highly of a temple in Taiwan and its role in building cross-Straits cooperation.

Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks while meeting a delegation from the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, led by abbot Hsin Pei on Wednesday in Beijing.

Song expressed deep condolences over the death of master Hsing Yun, founder of the temple and an influential monk who died last month at the age of 95.

Hsin Pei said Fo Guang Shan will follow its master's wish to continue to promote peaceful development.