Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), said on Tuesday it will work with the Chinese mainland to secure more direct holiday charter-flights across the Straits.

The KMT will send representatives to Beijing later this month to discuss this issue, as well as exports of the island's agricultural products.

Following the success of Spring Festival charter flights across the Taiwan Straits, there have been growing calls on both sides for expansion of the service.

On Tuesday, KMT lawmaker Tseng Yung-chuan said the flights could serve as a model and the two sides should operate regular direct flights and not limit the service to Taiwan businesspeople.

Tseng said the KMT is willing to cooperate with the mainland to facilitate such flights.

Tseng also confirmed the KMT chairman himself, Lien Chan, is willing to visit the mainland at an appropriate time.

(CCTV.com March 2, 2005)