The Chinese mainland official in charge of Taiwan affairs sent a telegram of condolence to the wife of Sun Yun-suan, honorary chairman of Strait Exchange Foundation (SEF) in Taiwan, who died from a heart attack at the age of 92 in Taipei on Wednesday morning.

"I am shocked and grief-stricken to learn of Sun's death, and express profound sorrow and condolences for you and your family," said Chen Yunlin, director of both the Taiwan Work Office of Central Committee of Communist Party of China and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

"Sun was a highly knowledgable, cultural person. He was admiredfor his tremendous contribution to Taiwan's economic development, his concerns for the peaceful and stable development across the Taiwan Straits and his push for cross-straits negotiations and communication," he said.

Sun was born in east China's Shandong Province in 1913 and he graduated from Harbin Polytechnic University in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, majoring in electrical engineering.

Sun held many important professional posts. He was a member of the KMT Central Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the KMT Central Commitee.

Sun was "premier" from 1978 to 1984 after having served as minister of economic affairs for nine years. He was said to have gained respect from the Taiwan political circle for laying the foundations for Taiwan's economic growth.

Sun was selected by late President Chiang Ching-kuo to be his successor but was unable to take up the position after suffering a stroke in 1984 that ended his political career.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)