The Taiwan Affairs Office of China's State Council is wanting to strengthen agricultural cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan, saying political differences should never interfere with economic exchanges across the straits.

The Director of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council, Chen Yunlin, met with an agriculture delegation led by the renown figure Xu Xinliang。

Chen Yunlin says because of the measures taken by the mainland, agricultural exchanges across the straits have been growing and fruitful.

He says that the mainland cares much about Taiwan farmers and their production, and sympathizes with their difficulties.

He adds the mainland is sincerely willing to make the greatest efforts to help farmers on the Taiwan island to overcome the limitations and barriers set by the Taiwan authority to sell their agricultural products to the mainland.

(CRI November 9, 2004)