TAIPEI -- Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou said Thursday that increased exchanges between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan will facilitate the peaceful development of cross-Strait ties.

Ma made the remarks while receiving a Taiwanese delegation, which, headed by Wu Poh-hsiung, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, will attend the 8th Cross-Strait Economic, Trade and Culture Forum.

The event is scheduled for July 28-29 in the mainland's northeast city of Harbin.

"The more channels for (cross-Strait) exchanges, and the more frequent activities like this, the better for the peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan ties," Ma was quoted as saying by a statement from his office.

Noting that cross-Strait cultural ties have been much closer over recent years, Ma said further efforts can be made to promote cultural exchanges between Taiwan, where well-preserved Chinese culture is delicately combined with modern styles, and the mainland, the birthplace of Chinese culture.

The Cross-Straits Economic, Trade and Culture Forum, initiated in 2006, is sponsored by the KMT party and the Communist Party of China.

Themed "deepening peaceful development, benefiting people across the Straits," the upcoming forum will feature topics related to cross-Strait economic and trade cooperation, as well as cultural and educational exchanges, according to mainland officials.