China's mainland told Taiwan Wednesday to make arrangements for charter flights for both passengers and cargo "as soon as possible," instead of "delaying the issue in any excuse."

"We have not changed and will not change our stand to actively promote cross-Straits chartered flights for passengers and cargo. We'll try our best to do anything beneficial for the Taiwan compatriots and cross-Straits exchange," said Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, at a routine press conference.

He said that non-government industrial organizations across the Taiwan straits can draw on their experience arranging flights during the 2005 Spring Festival. The organizations can exchange views on regular chartered flights for both passengers and cargo.

"Chartered planes for passenger flight have become most realistic and pressing issue to be addressed," he said.

Every year, approximately three million Taiwanese go to the Chinese mainland. More mainlanders are expected to travel to Taiwan after Taiwan authorities agreed to allow up to 1,000 people from the mainland to visit Taiwan daily.

He said the Chinese mainland hopes Taiwan will allow non-government industrial organizations to negotiate and arrange direct flights of chartered planes for passengers as soon as possible and exchange views on chartered cargo planes.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2005)