The Chinese mainland will continue to work for the resumption of
normal exchanges and communication across the
Taiwan Straits
in the interest of the people on both sides, said Chen Yunlin,
director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council,
Wednesday.
While meeting with a delegation of trade unions in Taiwan, Chen
said personnel, trade, economic or other types of exchanges form
the foundation for progress in the cross-Straits relationship and
build a bridge between the mutual interests and sentiments of
compatriots across the Straits.
An
early resumption of normal exchanges across the Straits is in line
with the interests and benefits of compatriots on both sides of the
Straits, he said, adding that it is also their common
aspiration.
Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, cross-Straits
communication has recovered swiftly since severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS) has been brought under control on both sides of the
Straits, Chen said.
The fact that growing numbers of compatriots from Taiwan have been
arriving in the mainland to participate in a variety of activities
fully indicates that the link between compatriots across the
Straits can not be cut off, he said.
Chen expressed the hope that more Taiwan compatriots would visit
the mainland in order to deepen mutual understanding.
He
said the mainland will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights
of Taiwanese compatriots and promote economic and cultural
exchanges for an early establishment of the three direct links of
trade, mail, and air and shipping services across the Straits.
The 26-member delegation will visit Beijing, and Hebei and Shandong
Province from July 15 to 25 at the invitation of the Hebei
provincial federation of trade unions.
(Xinhua News Agency July 17, 2003)