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)