Wang Daohan, president of the mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, died on Saturday in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital at age 90.

Wang, a native of Jiashan in east China's Anhui Province, previously served as secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, mayor and vice mayor of Shanghai and adviser to the Shanghai government.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait was founded in December 1991, with Wang as its president.

In April 1993 in Singapore, Wang and Koo Chen-fu, chairman of the Taiwan-based Strait Exchange Foundation, held the first high-level, non-governmental talks involving officials from both sides of the strait.

The talks became known as the Wang-Koo meeting.

In October 1998, they held a second round talks in Shanghai and reached a consensus on dialogue over cross-strait political issues.

Over the weekend, experts on the Taiwan issue and residents in Shanghai began to commemorate the man who worked tirelessly for the promotion of relations between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan for many years.

Wang's biggest regret was that he was not able to visit his Taiwan counterparts, said Zhang Nianchi, deputy director of the Shanghai East Asian Institute. Zhang had a 15-year acquaintanceship with Wang.

But Wang was most gratified to witness the establishment of a communication mechanism between the Communist Party of China and some of Taiwan's major parties, said the expert.

"What we should learn from Wang is his deep affection for his Taiwan compatriots," Zhang said.

Wang had always said that "all the people across the Taiwan Strait are Chinese, and they share a blood-and-bone relationship. There is no enmity or prejudice that cannot be dispelled."

"Wang was a sagacious and wise man, and he worked hard to create a better environment for us," said Chen Luyi, vice president of the Shanghai-based Taiwan Investment Association.

In Taiwan on Saturday, leaders of three major opposition parties expressed their condolences over Wang's death.

Wang played an important role in promoting cross-strait relations and made great contributions to the development of peaceful exchanges, said Ma Ying-jeou, chairman of the Kuomintang party.

"With his gentle, rational and innovative style, Wang played a key role in enhancing peaceful exchanges and made outstanding contributions," said Ma.

Wang also served as professor of economics at many prestigious educational institutions, including Beijing University, Fudan University and Tongji University.