(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-30 16:18

BEIJING  -- Li Weiyi, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman, said Wednesday that he had no comment on the appointment of Lai Shin-yuan as head of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) by Taiwan's incoming leader Ma Ying-jeou.

Li said at a routine press briefing he would not comment on the appointment, because what the mainland cares is the development of across-Straits relations in the future.

Lai is a former lawmaker from the pro-independent Taiwan Solidarity Union.

"There have been some positive changes in Taiwan recently and the cross-Straits relationship is showing a good momentum," Li said, adding that all these have not come easy.

"People from both sides of the Straits are looking forward to the resumption of dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, particularly the regularization of cross-Straits chartered flights on weekends and the lifting of controls on mainland tourists to visit Taiwan.

"We have made efforts for this end. If this process is disrupted, that will not be a welcome development for people across the Strait."

Li added he believes that with efforts from both sides, the two specific goals can be realized after due consultations.