The Chinese mainland and Taiwan have published their first jointly compiled dictionary, with the aim of enhancing cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the two.

A staff shows the cross-Straits Common Vocabulary Dictionary in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province, on Jan. 8, 2016. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The dictionary, named the cross-Straits Common Vocabulary Dictionary, includes more than 80,000 commonly used Mandarin Chinese words and phrases.

Li Xingjian is the mainland's editor-in-chief of the joint dictionary:

"Finding the difference is not our ultimate goal; we aim to eventually eradicate differences and let the Chinese language truly become one."

The Chinese language has evolved differently in Taiwan and the mainland due to historical reasons.

Yang Du, a Taiwanese scholar who participated in compiling the dictionary, says the dictionary will help promote "an in-depth communication" between the people.

"We are talking about more than just language, but a broader cultural exchange, and an in-depth communication between people of different mindsets and mentalities. This project will contribute to that."

Meanwhile, scholars from the two sides are working on a joint Chinese dictionary of science and technology, which is expected to hit the market in 2018.

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