Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), shakes hands with John Podesta, head of the delegation of the Center for American Progress, a U.S. think tank, in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2011. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- China`s top political advisor Jia Qinglin on Wednesday urged the United States to properly deal with Taiwan-related issues and attach importance to China`s concerns.

"The Taiwan issue concerns China`s sovereignty and integrity of territory, affects the 1.3 billion Chinese people`s national feelings, and is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations," Jia told a delegation from the Center for American Progress, a U.S. think tank.

Jia, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference, said the sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations conforms with the interests of both peoples and the world at large.

He pledged to enhance dialogue, strengthen strategic mutual trust, expand mutual beneficial cooperation and properly handle differences and sensitive questions with the United States in order to promote the cooperative partnership.

The delegation of the Washington-based think tank is led by John Podesta, the organization`s president and CEO who has vowed to contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People`s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with John Podesta, head of the delegation of the Center for American Progress, a U.S. think tank. in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 16, 2011. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)