国内英语新闻:Closer, stronger, better cross-Strait relations is common aspiration of people: mainland off

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland's Taiwan affairs chief said Thursday that closer, stronger and better cross-Strait relations are the common aspiration and the wish of the people.

Any attempts to obstruct and damage communication across the Taiwan Strait, to sever cross-Strait historic and cultural connections and to push for "de-sinicization" and "Taiwan independence" will hurt the fundamental interests of the people on both sides of the Strait and will not succeed, Liu Jieyi, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said at a forum on technology development between Beijing and Taiwan.

He said the mainland has always listened to the voices of Taiwan compatriots and enterprises, taking care of their needs and providing a more friendly environment for them to share the opportunities brought by mainland's development.

Liu, also head of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, spoke of the mainland's 31 preferential policies for Taiwan issued in February, saying that they are aimed at promoting economic and cultural communication and cooperation across the Strait.

In early August, the mainland coastal province of Fujian started supplying water to Kinmen, a small island attached to Taiwan but close to the mainland.

Liu also pointed out that the mainland would allow residents of Taiwan to apply for residence permits in the Chinese mainland from September 1.

"All these measures have been praised and welcomed by Taiwan compatriots," he stressed.

Liu promised that the mainland would continue to promote the well-being and interests of Taiwan compatriots as always.

"Compatriots from both sides of the Taiwan Strait should work together for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, advance the process toward the peaceful reunification of the motherland, and realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation," said Liu.