Ma's visit shows cross-Straits kinship, spokeswoman says

A Chinese mainland spokeswoman has called on Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities to respect the people's will and resume people-to-people exchanges across the Taiwan Straits.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that the recent trip by Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party, to the mainland fully reflects the common aspiration of people on both sides for cross-Straits peace, development, exchanges and cooperation.

Ma's visit, during which he paid respects to his ancestors in Xiangtan, Hunan province, drew wide attention from both sides of the Straits and received positive comments from the public, said Zhu, adding that the visit showed that compatriots on both sides of the Straits are Chinese and of one family.

Paying respects to one's ancestors is a fine tradition of the Chinese nation, said Zhu, who welcomed more people from Taiwan to visit the mainland to find their roots and honor their ancestors.

On the basis of the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, the mainland will conduct various forms of dialogue and consultation with those on the island, and promote the resumption, expansion and deepening of cross-Straits exchanges and cooperation, she said.

Zhu said the mainland is willing to support exchanges between young people from both sides, while commenting on Ma's remark that promoting cross-Straits youth exchanges is an urgent task.

This summer, more than 1,200 internships will be provided by around 360 companies in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, while Jiangsu province will hold an employment activity for Taiwan college students from July to August, she said.

Zhu condemned the DPP authorities for going against the people's will by restricting exchanges between schools on the mainland and the island, and for prohibiting mainland personnel from going to the island to conduct regular communication and business trips.

"The mainland actively advocates and promotes the resumption of normal personnel exchanges in various fields across the Straits, which is also the common aspiration of compatriots on both sides, she said.

The restrictions by the DPP are unreasonable and should be lifted as soon as possible, she added.

In another development, the Ministry of Commerce has launched an investigation into Taiwan's trade restriction measures against products from the mainland. The investigation, which started on Wednesday, involves 2,455 products, including agricultural produce, minerals, chemicals and textiles.

Liu Zhihua contributed to this story.