Resumption of direct cross-Strait flights to benefit exchanges: Chinese mainland spokesperson

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- The resumption of direct flights across the Taiwan Strait will benefit cross-Strait personnel exchanges and communication, a Chinese mainland spokesperson said Thursday.

Ma Xiaoguang, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks in response to a press inquiry on an announcement by related authorities in Taiwan, including the mainland affairs authority, on Thursday of a plan to resume direct flights to part of the mainland destinations from Friday.

The announcement suits the demand for fully restoring direct cross-Strait passenger flights, Ma said, adding that the needs for peace, development, communication, and cooperation are common aspirations of the compatriots on both sides of the Strait.

He called on the Taiwan side to facilitate the normalization of direct cross-Strait flights and ferry routes, and the travel and other direct exchanges between Fujian's coastal areas and Kinmen and Matsu. Enditem