The Chinese mainland is willing to provide more convenience in currency exchange for people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits, central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan said Thursday.

Although there is no direct currency exchange between the Renminbi, or the yuan, and New Taiwan Dollar, relevant authorities are actively studying and discussing the possibility, said Zhou, governor of the People's Bank of China.

He cited Chinese President Hu Jintao as saying that the mainland will make utmost efforts in anything that is good to the Taiwan compatriots.

He made the remarks while responding to a question raised by a Taiwan journalist at a press conference on the sidelines of the annual session of the National People's Congress, the top legislature.

Actually, Zhou said, many banking outlets on the west side of the Straits (the mainland) accept New Taiwan Dollar and quite a few institutions in Taiwan, such as tourism agencies, accept the yuan.

"But of course, we need to further facilitate the currency exchange, which requires willingness and political conditions," he said, without elaborating the "political conditions".

"In a word, there is room in this regard and we have done a lot," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2008)