The Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office has been talking up the benefits of a trade pact between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan region, which is now awaiting ratification by Taiwan authorities.

For more than a week, demonstrators, mainly students, have been protesting against the review of the service trade agreement. Many students occupied Taiwan's parliament for a number of days in protest.

On Sunday, Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou rejected the protesters' call to shelve the deal.

The Chinese mainland's Taiwan Affairs Office has responded by saying that cross-strait economic activity will bring continued mutual benefits.

Spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said: "We've been closely watching what's going on. I think the push for more cross-strait economic activity is firmly aimed at being in the best interests of all the people, including those in Taiwan.

"During the past two decades, cross-strait economic cooperation has been beneficial to people's living standards. Looking towards the future, I think all will agree that cooperation brings mutual benefits while confrontation brings mutual harm."