Chinese people in the mainland are looking forward to further improvement in cross-strait relations, amid warming ties highlighted by Kuomintang Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung's six-day mainland visit last month.

"I am especially impressed by Mr Wu's notion that 'both the mainland and Taiwan belong to the Chinese nation,'" said Wang Zhongliu, a college teacher at a Beijing-based university.

"I saw on TV that Mr Wu suggested one minute of silence to mourn for the deceased in the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake upon his arrival in Nanjing. He also conveyed his concerns and condolences to the quake victims on several other occasions later on.

"We can see more clearly how close connections across the Taiwan Strait are in the face of such major calamities," Wang said.

His words were echoed by Chen Jinlu, a government official working in the southeastern Fujian Province on the neighboring Taiwan Strait.

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are always like family to each other," Chen said. "When the magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck Taiwan in September 1999, we on the Chinese mainland were also concerned about our Taiwan compatriots."

"The 'blood-and-flesh-like' connection across the strait transcends any kind of political disputes."

With tensions in the cross-strait relations easing like, as Wu himself put it, "the sky clears after the rain," mainlanders are also urging for more cross-strait exchanges.

Xu Weijun, who works at the Bank of Communications Shanghai Branch, said she had been watching closely for tourist opportunities in Taiwan ever since the Chinese mainland authority disclosed in 2005 it was negotiating with the island on mainland tourists' travel to Taiwan.

"I have heard of the beautiful sceneries in Taiwan so many times," Xu said. "My family and I will book tickets to the island the very moment it opens for mainland tourists."

Chen Jinlu also said visiting Taiwan had been his dream for years.

"I am glad to hear the inter-party talk between the Communist Party of China and the Kuomintang has concluded that cross-strait talks would resume as soon as possible, with weekend charter flights and mainlanders' travel to Taiwan as the initial focus. I think my dream will be realized soon," he said.

The pressing expectation of expanding exchanges across the strait were also shared by the mainland's tourism industry.

Wang Jian, China Travel Service G.D. (Guangdong Province) spokesman, told Xinhua the agency had already settled travel plans in Taiwan and over 5,000 people in the mainland had booked visits to the island, even though it was currently still off limits.

"We are fully prepared for arranging travel tours in Taiwan for mainland tourists."

Xiamen Airlines Deputy Manager Shen Zhiqun said, "Xiamen Airlines was founded more than 20 years ago, aiming at providing service for direct flights between the mainland and Taiwan."

"I don't think it will take very long from now for the two sides across the strait to begin direct flights. Such issues concerning the well-being of people on both sides of the strait should not be stalled any longer for whatever reason."

(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2008)