Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said an increasingly earnest request for direct links for mail, trade and transport services between the two sides was being heard from the Taiwan community, especially its business circles.

Achieving the direct links was the mainland's ongoing intention and was necessary to boost economic and other ties between the two sides, the spokesman said. The mainland was sincere and actively supportive of the direct links.

The mainland side had reiterated its position on the direct links, he said. It was an economic issue and political factors must not interfere with negotiations on the matter. The direct air and shipping services could be put into practice as soon as possible on condition that it not be defined as links between two nations, he said.

The mainland would take active measures to deal with an appeal by Taiwanese people wanting to visit their relatives on the mainland by direct charter flight, said the spokesman.

Pu Zhaozhou, in charge of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan affairs at the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), said CAAC would actively consider an application by Taiwanese airlines for direct charter flights. Airlines on both sides of the strait could talk to settle specific questions which might appear during the process, the official said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2002)